Mo Mowlam and Ray Burke: reviewing progress

Mo Mowlam discusses the talks on the Today programme Dur: 6'27"

Agreement on Terrorist Weapons Group

The Northern Ireland Secretary, Mo Mowlam, said the independent decommissioning body would be up and running by the time substantive negotiations begin at Stormont on September 15.

The agreement was reached after a meeting between Dr Mowlam and the Irish Foreign Minister, Ray Burke, in Belfast on Tuesday night.

After signing the agreement, Dr Mowlam said: "Everybody knows that we cannot force people to hand in weapons. But what we have here is a structure to facilitate that from day one of the talks."

The decommissioning body will be made up of not less than two members and is expected to be headed by General John de Chastelain, although the chairman has not yet been confirmed. The Irish government had dismissed the suggestion that it opposed the appointment of the Canadian general, because of his tough stance on the IRA disarming.

Ray Burke: "It needs a leap of faith on all sides"

Mr Burke reaffirmed the Irish Government's commitment to the total disarmament of the IRA and other paramilitary organisations. He said the success of the decommissioning drive depended on all those involved.

"We have agreed this is the best mechanism to do that and I would encourage all to take heart from the commitment we have shown tonight.

"We are giving it the best push we can, now we need some support from all parties around the table."

The omens are not good, however. Ian Paisley Jnr of the Democratic Unionists said the disarmament body had no power to demand the hand-over of weapons and would deliver nothing.

Bone of contention: many more are still in circulation

"This decommissioning body is a fraud and a deception. The British and Irish agreement is an agreement not to decommission," he said.

"The body will deliver nothing in terms of hardware. No bullets and explosives or deadly weapons will be handed over."

Dr Mowlam said she would announce her decision on Thursday about whether the IRA's political wing, Sinn Fein, should be invited to enter the talks. It is expected she will confirm that the IRA ceasefire has been sufficiently well observed for Republicans to take their seats.

But the Secretary of State admitted there were still doubts about the mainstream Ulster Unionists sitting down at the same table. She hoped they would: "The real value they can give to the unionist community is to be in the talks with their voice heard."

Sinn Fein is sounding confident about taking part in the talks. Its Chairman, Mitchel McLaughlin, said he was sure his party would be invited.

Mitchel McLaughlin: "No doubt whatsoever"  Dur: 1'51"

A six week "quarantine period" was imposed on Sinn Fein following the IRA's ceasefire declaration of July 20. Security officials are said to be advising Dr Mowlam that the ceasefire is sufficiently genuine.