‘Deal close on arms’ hints Trimble
Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble today signalled that a deal on IRA weapons may be close.
The Ulster Unionist leader said proposals had been put to republicans as part of negotiations aimed at safeguarding the power-sharing regime in Belfast.
He said: ‘‘I think the Government may have put some proposals to them and I know the Irish Government has been putting pressure on them as well.
‘‘We hope they’re going to come back and tell us precisely how they’re going to put the weapons beyond use in a permanent and verifiable way.
‘‘That will leave just simply the issue of policing and I hope that can be sorted out without too much controversy.’’
