IRA ANNOUNCES IT WILL CEASE ALL "MILITANT" EFFORTS AND DISARM

NYTIMES/"REUTERS": DUBLIN - The Irish Republican Army guerrilla group formally announced an end to its armed campaign against British rule in Northern Ireland on Thursday but gave no commitment to disband as some of its opponents had urged. ... The IRA said in a statement it would cease all armed activity and pursue its aims through politics -- a crucial move to kick-start talks on a lasting political settlement in the violence-torn province. It said its units must ``dump arms.''

This is good news (which we reported was rumored to be "in the works" last week).BTW: This is exactly what the ROADMAP FOR PEACE requires Abbas get ALL "militant" groups must do in the disputed territories. We're WAITNG!