Irish militants lay down weapons

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One of Northern Ireland's biggest pro-British paramilitary groups is expected to announce that it has dumped all its weapons, an organisation close to the militants said.

The Ulster Defence Association announced last June that its armed struggle was over and it had started decommissioning its weapons. It is expected to release a statement on Wednesday saying the process was complete.

"Yes there will be an announcement, we all believe it's positive," said Frankie Gallagher of the Ulster Political Research Group, which is close to the paramilitaries.

"The work ... has been successful," Gallagher told Reuters when asked to confirm local media reports that an announcement by the UDA was imminent.

"(The announcement) will copper-fasten the peace process at a much needed time," he added.

Another group, the Ulster Volunteer Force, the most lethal pro-British militant organisation, said in June it had disposed of all its weapons.

More than 3600 people were killed in violence between the late 1960s and the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement that paved the way for a power-sharing executive run jointly by former foes.

Efforts to consolidate peace were challenged last March when Republican splinter groups the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA killed two British soldiers and a policeman.

Attacks against the police have been recurring in recent months and there also have been signs that co-operation in the executive between Sinn Fein, the political ally of the Irish Republican Army, and the Democratic Unionist Party could be close to break down.

- AP