John Reid has agreed to independent monitoring of Northern Ireland's ceasefire.

The Northern Ireland secretary believes that despite the Belfast Agreement violence "remains a matter of serious concern".

Dr Reid has concluded that external audits of the Good Friday peace process "can only assist in bringing further pressure to bear on those responsible" for continuing sectarian violence.

"I have now concluded that it would be appropriate to put in place arrangements for an independent monitoring of the level of violence in Northern Ireland and the nature of paramilitary involvement in it," he said.

Both loyalists and republicans have drawn repeated fire over Belfast street disturbances.

Alleged IRA involvement in training Colombian Marxist guerrillas has led to Ulster Unionist claims that republicans have broken ceasefire pledges.

And feuding between loyalist paramilitaries has raised the spectre of "all out war" between hard line Protestant factions.

With no names yet in the frame for "this important role", Reid will shortly publish the post's formal terms of reference.

"This task won't be easy," he warned.

"But I am clear that we need someone who will be focused on the very practical task of bringing greater transparency to the pattern of violence and the involvement of both loyalist and republican paramilitary organisations in it."

Independent auditing will not be a quick fix, acknowledges the Northern Ireland secretary, and nor will it be a substitute for hands-on politics.

"The monitor will not solve the problem of paramilitary violence, nor will he relieve me of the obligation to review all the available information in judging whether each paramilitary organisation is maintaining a ceasefire," he cautioned.

"But I do believe that this new mechanism will help to create a greater sense of openness and reinforce the transition to a normal democratic society."

The Tories have welcomed the move as a belated addition to the Northern Ireland peace process.

Quentin Davies insisted that any monitor must be genuinely independent of ministers or other politicians.

'The appointment of an 'independent monitor of violence' is welcome - provided he or she is to be genuinely independent and that the monitor's assessments will always be published in full. These are crucial conditions."

The shadow Northern Ireland secretary believes the "government has consistently turned a blind eye to terrorist activities that are clearly at odds with the definition of the ceasefires set out by Tony Blair himself".

"I hope, therefore, that today's announcement marks a shift in government policy and, if the monitor declares any organisation to be in breach of its ceasefire, that decisive action will follow," he said.

"Four and a half years into the agreement it must be made clear that continued paramilitary activity will not be tolerated and, in the case of Sinn Fein-IRA, is inconsistent with participation in the government of Northern Ireland."