Army's moves 'ahead of schedule'

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The British government's two-year demilitarisation programme is running ahead of schedule, the Independent Monitoring Commission has said.

The programme was drawn up in response to the IRA statement in July 2005 that its campaign of violence was over.

In its 14th report, the IMC again said it believes the IRA poses no security threat and is committed to politics.

It said dissident republican terrorists remain a threat, but do not have the ability to mount a sustained campaign.

Support role

Set up by the British and Irish governments in January 2004, most of the Independent Monitoring Commission's reports have concentrated on activity by paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland.

However, it also monitors the "normalisation" of security measures.

The demilitarisation moves are part of the end of Operation Banner, the British army's support role for the police during the Troubles.

By 1 August, the Army's presence in Northern Ireland will be reduced to no more than 5,000.

The commissioners said that between last August and January 2007, troop levels have been reduced by another 600 to bring the total to just over 7,500.

Overall sites have been reduced from 24 to 20, and the programme's target of 14 military installations has been further reduced with the government confirming another four can go.

Demolition of the towers and observation posts in border areas is almost complete. Ten were standing in July 2005, but only two remain and they are due to be taken down within months.

It is now up to the politicians to normalise politics in Northern Ireland and restore devolved government and a power-sharing executive on 26 March Peter HainNorthern Ireland secretary Soldiers were once posted at 10 police stations but Crossmaglen is the only station to still have troops.

Helicopter use by the British army was also reduced by more than a third compared to the same period in 2005/06.

The commission confirmed that seven vacated security sites have been disposed of, while another six are currently in that process.

Details of the defortification of police buildings were also included, with the report noting that 59 schemes will have been completed by this summer. Plans include 35 defortification schemes in 2006-07.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said the report was evidence that society in Northern Ireland has been transformed.

He said: "This is the eighth IMC report since the IRA announced that its armed campaign had ended in July 2005, each one progressively confirming delivery of the commitments promised by them, including driving criminality out of the organisation.

"This report details what the people of Northern Ireland are already experiencing - that they are living in an increasingly normalised society."

He added: "It is now up to the politicians to normalise politics in Northern Ireland and restore devolved government and a power-sharing executive on 26 March."