'Terror' arrests as Blair meets Adams

SEVEN terror suspects were under arrest today in the Irish Republic as Tony Blair and his most senior ministers prepare to kick- start the decommissioning of the terrorist arsenal, writes David Shaw.

The suspects were being held at three police stations and questioned over membership of the Continuity IRA after being arrested at a republican conference in County Louth.

The Prime Minister was meeting Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams today amid continuing pressure to win a badly needed boost to the peace process through a handover of arms. There are suggestions that Ulster Secretary Mo Mowlam may bring about some movement by shortly recognising the ceasefire of the Loyalist Volunteer Force. That would pave the way for the release of LVF prisoners and the group has promised that once this is under way it will hand in its weaponry, increasing pressure on the IRA to respond in kind. In advance of today's meeting at Downing Street, Republican sources rejected suggestions that IRA paramilitaries plan a pre- Christmas convention to authorise a move on weapons. They also dismissed the prospects of a token handover of sections of the IRA arsenal to break the long-running deadlock that has blocked advances in the Good Friday peace accord.

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