McGuinness: "Not A Single Bullet"

"We have been assured that the decomissioning issue has been removed now as a precondition for talks," he said - but he acknowledged that it remained a difficulty for Unionists.

Mr McGuinness also told Sky Television that he did not believe the IRA would hand over a single bullet. "The IRA have said thay they will not decommission a single bullet and I have not heard any statement from them saying they have changed their position on that."

The President of Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams, had earlier described the ceasefire announcement as "momentous". Speaking at a rally near Sinn Fein's headquarters in West Belfast on Saturday, Mr Adams said Sinn Fein would join the talks with the creation of a united Irish Republic as "our primary objective", and predicted the struggle was "only just beginning".

Between 300 and 400 people turned out to hear Mr Adams speak, a crowd hardly comparable to the thousands who took to the streets to greet the last IRA ceasefire in 1994.

Mitchel McLaughlin: "Difficulties ahead"

Mr McLaughlin tells BBC World the ceasefire is here to stay Dur: 4'10"

Sinn Fein's Chairman, Mitchel McLaughlin, acknowledged there were great problems ahead. "Sinn Fein has difficulties, the British and Irish governments have problems. Everyone will bring with them their doubts and mistrusts," Mr McLaughlin said.

"All of us have the responsibility nevertheless to get to know each other, to understand each other and to resolve this through a process of dialogue," he added.

The IRA statement was widely expected, after Mr Adams had announced on Friday that he had provided a detailed report and assessment to the IRA and urged its leadership to "restore its cessation of August 1994".

February 1996: huge Docklands bomb ends last IRA ceasefire

The two-page statement outlines the terms on which Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA, believes peace can be built. Mr Adams stressed the importance of a commitment by the British and Irish governments to inclusive talks without preconditions.

The last IRA ceasefire began in September 1994, but in February 1996, after 17 months of peace, the IRA resumed armed hostilities, saying it was frustrated that Britain had refused it a political voice in talks.