IRA will not move on arms photos

The IRA today refused to compromise on the issue that caused peace talks to collapse.

In a statement the group insisted it was committed to giving up weapons and to halting paramilitary activities. But it will not allow the taking of photographs to prove arms had been put beyond use.

Sinn Fein chief Mitchell McLaughlin said Democratic Unionist leader Ian Paisley could nominate a "civilian witness" to decommissioning. But the DUP's Ian Paisley Jr accused the IRA of playing a "runaround game".

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble charged the Republicans with being " precious", while Irish foreign affairs minister Dermot Ahern remained optimistic a deal could still be done.

"The refusal of photographs wasn't as explicit as is being indicated," he said.