Reduced security: The British army yesterday began dismantling a number of security posts and a military base following Thursday's IRA statement which said it had ended its armed campaign.
Soldiers were flown to south Armagh where they began the process of closing down an observation post at Newtownhamilton police station, a watchtower at Sugarloaf Mountain and a base at Forkhill.
The army's general officer commanding Northern Ireland, Lieut Gen Sir Reddy Watt, said a reduction in the security profile was possible following the IRA statement.
"I can announce that preliminary work is starting today in south Armagh on the removal of the hilltop observation tower at Sugerloaf Hill, near Camlough, on the vacation and closure of the base at Forkhill and on the removal of a super-sangar [ a lookout post] at Newtownhamilton police station."
Northern Secretary Peter Hain said reducing the military presence in the North was the first of a series of "security normalisation" measures to be put in place.
In the meantime, he said the Independent Monitoring Commission will report on progress made in October and again in January.
"[ During this time] we'll be taking forward a process of political negotiation, engagement and normalisation of policing and withdrawal of military support for the police," he added.
The British army's troop strength and base network has already been reduced significantly over the past decade of peacemaking, but the process had been put on hold in recent months in expectation of new IRA peace pledges.
Yesterday's measures were originally put on the table during the Hillsborough talks in 2003 aimed at restoring devolved government to the North. A revised security normalisation programme is expected to be published soon, while plans are being made to allow on-the-run paramilitary fugitives to return home.
The move drew sharp criticism from the DUP.
Assembly member Arlene Foster said she was outraged by the scaling down of security measures given that the IRA had yet to show that it would keep its word.
"It's criminally irresponsible of the government to do that, given what has gone on in those Border areas," she said.
"The government seems quite happy to act on words alone. It's startling that when the IRA give a statement saying they will stop what they should never have been doing that the government act so soon."
The UUP's deputy leader, Danny Kennedy, said it was outrageous that the government had "foolishly" decided to act on IRA words alone.
"With the ink not even dry on yesterday's IRA statement, it is absolutely outrageous that the government have decided to embark on such a major security scaledown," the Newry and Armagh MLA said.
"When you consider ongoing IRA criminality in the area and the threat posed by dissident republicans this latest move is more than premature."
However, Sinn Féin welcomed the move and urged further dismantling of security posts across the North.
The party's MP for Newry and Armagh, Conor Murphy, said: "The start made today must be built upon in the days and weeks ahead, not just in south Armagh but across the six counties."
SDLP leader Mark Durkan said the British government's programme of security measures needed close examination.
"That will have to be scrutinised by the Independent Monitoring Commission as well because that body also has a role in looking at what the governments are doing," he said.
