Sinn Fein sources have claimed that British intelligence is behind a number of newspaper reports yesterday that the IRA is planning to hold a pre-Christmas convention on decommissioning.
The reports, on the eve of this afternoon's meeting between the Sinn Fein leader, Mr Gerry Adams, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, suggested the republican movement was planning a convention which could pave the way for a token IRA gesture on disarmament which could allow Sinn Fein into an executive.
Sinn Fein members said to go on the record about the reports would only lend them a credence that they did not deserve. ein knows nothing about the reports, but "They bear all the hallmarks of dirty tricks stories inspired by British intelligence," one source said. He claimed that the timing of reports - coming as the anti-Belfast Agreement Republican Sinn Fein organisation was holding its ardfheis, when Mr Adams was about to meet Mr Blair, and when Mr David Trimble was maintaining his pressure for some IRA disarmament - were designed to damage Sinn Fein.
