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INLA ends campaign

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The Irish National Liberation Army have announced an end to its 30-year campaign of republican violence.
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The organisation responsible for some of the most infamous attacks of the Troubles used a graveside oration outside Dublin to confirm that its "armed struggle is over".

But there was uncertainty over whether or not the group which killed more than 100 people during the Troubles was prepared to decommission its illegal arsenal of weapons, after the statement read to supporters failed to promise a disposal of arms.

A representative of the Irish Republican Socialist Party Martin McMonagle told the event: "The Republican Socialist Movement has been informed by the INLA that following a process of serious debate, consultation and analysis, it has concluded that the armed struggle is over.

"The objective of a 32 county socialist republic will be best achieved exclusively through political, peaceful means."

He added that the grouping continued to oppose the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 as a platform for achieving Irish unity, but would restrict its opposition to the accord to purely peaceful means.

On the question of decommissioning INLA arms, however, the IRSP spokesman later added that there was no announcement on decommissioning to coincide with the statement.

He said the IRSP believed that INLA violence was at an end, but on the question of decommissioning added: "That would be a matter for the INLA."

Confirmation that the splinter group, responsible for attacks such as the murder of Conservative MP Airey Neave in 1979, is to formally end its campaign comes as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Sunday violent republicanism has no support among Irish-Americans.

The Secretary of State has left Britain to hold a series of engagements in Dublin, before travelling to Belfast for talks with Stormont political leaders as they broker an historic deal that it is hoped will see republicans and unionists share responsibility for running the region's justice system.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has spoken following the news.

"I know there will be cynicism given the history of that organisation, perhaps that is understandable but if the actions which are required to follow through on the announcement actually happen then that will be to the good, and it is another step."

© Press Association

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At 22:05 on 12 October 2009, The Realist wrote:
Political party haha The Worker's Party whould woop your butt in elections and that's bad seeing they only get the average 300 vote's in west belfast alone.Time for Willie Gallagher and the IRSP to wrap up,shut up and call it a day, you have no support!!! Armed struggle over yet you need your gun's haha I wonder WHY!!!
At 20:28 on 12 October 2009, Gerard wrote:
Well said David i agree 100% with you.,
At 10:04 on 12 October 2009, md84 wrote:
When did their armed struggle even begin? A bunch of rackateering, drug pushing criminals
At 16:47 on 11 October 2009, David wrote:
A very brave decision by the INLA. I hope they can now progress this by building a political party that can challenge SF and their neo-liberal agenda.
At 15:42 on 11 October 2009, The Realist wrote:
Who Care's!!Serious who Care's what these sociopath looney tune's do!!There still criminals who haven't been republican never mind socialist since 1983.People are still a bit disappointed that when the IPLO were shut down these INLA should have went as well.
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