Letter: In brief

Sir: Nick Martin-Clark (letter, 17 March) says that Rosemary Nelson's murder means that there can be no immediate decommissioning. Presumably the argument is that republicans will need their arms to protect themselves against further attacks. This cannot apply to weapons such as Semtex, heavy machine-guns, rocket launchers and detonators. If the IRA were to decommission these weapons, that would provide the "credible beginning " David Trimble has asked for to allow the peace process to proceed.

STEPHEN PLOWDEN

London NW1