IRA rules out early ceasefire

Republicans have said that no new IRA ceasefire will be declared ahead of all-party talks on the future of Northern Ireland scheduled for next month.

Sources in Belfast said John Major must give clear and unambiguous guarantees that talks due to begin on 10 June are genuine before the Provisionals will consider another truce. One said: "There is a real problem of mistrust between us and the British. People simply think Major is buying time to get through the autumn."