No sanctions in Blair peace bid

THE IRA and Sinn Fein will face NO sanctions from Tony Blair in a bid to keep Provo hardliners behind the peace process.

Mr Blair will make the announcement on Wednesday when he reveals his proposals to rebuild confidence in the Northern Ireland peace process to the House of Commons, the Sunday Mirror has learnt.

Mr Blair will not be imposing any immediate sanctions on Sinn Fein despite unionist claims that the IRA had breached its 1997 ceasefire.

It is understood that the PM decided not to move against Sinn Fein amid fears that such a move would strengthen the hand of hard-liners within the IRA opposed to any further moves on the decommiss- ioning issue.

He was also given a stern warning from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern not to create a crisis by throwing Sinn Fein out of Stormont.

Instead, Mr Blair will "wipe the slate clean" of alleged breaches by the Provos and loyalist paramilitaries.

"Tony Blair will make it patently clear that there can be no half- way house between terrorism and democracy," the Stormont source said.

"The IRA and the loyalist paramilitaries will be told: 'No breaches or alleged breaches will be tolerated'.

"However, at this stage, we do not expect Mr Blair to outline what sanctions he will impose in the event of any organisation failing to fulfil its commitment to the political process.

"It's a case of a definitive new start date with no time limit set for a completion."

DUP minister Nigel Dodds has already called for Sinn Fein's expulsion from the Northern Ireland Executive.

The UUP has also called for Sinn Fein MLAs to be held accountable for any breaches of the IRA ceasefire.

Meanwhile, it is unlikely that UUP leader, David Trimble's demands for a referendum on the border - to be held on the same day as next year's - Assembly elections will be met.

The Sunday Mirror has also learnt that the British Government decided not to impose sanctions on Sinn Fein after intelligence reports indicated the IRA was considering carrying out another act of decommissioning.

It is believed the IRA will hand over a significant quantity of explosives within weeks.

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