Optimist: Ahern is confident

Attention is focused on Dublin as the IRA considers its response to the Anglo-Irish proposals aimed at getting the peace process back on track.

With Monday set as the deadline for responses by the two governments, a statement by the group's general council is expected over the weekend.

The joint statement issued in Belfast contained just 67 vague words on the issue and instead concentrated on issues including cross-border policing.

If the IRA rejects the document then Northern Ireland secretary Dr John Reid will be forced to accept that the deadline of August 12 for decommissioning set by David Trimble will not be met.

The two options then will either be to hold fresh elections for the assembly - most likely without the former first minister - or impose direct rule from Westminster.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams gave a cautious assessment saying his party would lobby for a positive response.

"The IRA will make up their own minds. We will continue to do our best to see the implementation of all aspects of the agreement and that includes dealing with the whole issue of arms," he said.

Adams warned any statement on the issue of decommissioning would be dealt with as one of a range of issues.

"Policing, the political institutions, demilitarisation, the arms issue, human rights, the justice system and the equality agenda are standalone issues," he said. "Our approach will be to engage constructively to see if what is proposed has the potential to finally implement the Good Friday Agreement."

Speculation is mounting that a behind-the-scenes deal has been agreed by London and Dublin with the Provisionals, before the 10-page document was released on Wednesday, aimed at getting the republicans to begin decommissioning their weapons.

Sources in the Dublin media have claimed both governments had privately agreed that no document would be published until either positive moves had been made by the IRA or all avenues had been exhausted.

Bertie Ahern has said privately he remains "confident" the IRA will respond positively to the joint declaration which was billed as a "take it or leave it deal".

"We believe it is a conclusive address of issues that have created difficulties in this process over the last few years. Everyone can't win on all the issues but in a careful examination of them I think they will see that the balance is correct," he said.