The latest bomb attack by dissident republicans demonstrates just why the British government must resist Sinn Féin demands for demilitarisation, an Ulster Unionist MP claimed tonight.
Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson called on the British government in the wake of last night's explosion at BBC Television Centre to ignore demands from republicans to scale down security in Northern Ireland.
Mr Donaldson said the attack, which was being blamed on the Real IRA, highlighted "the need for increased security" in the North against hardline paramilitary groups.
He told PA News: "This attack exposes the utter folly of the government in pursuing a policy of downgrading security in spite of the increasing threat from terrorist violence.
"I hope the Prime Minister realises it is absolutely essential, not just for the people of Northern Ireland but people throughout the United Kingdom, that adequate security measures remain in place.
"The only way to deal with the Real IRA and dissident groups is through adequate security and surveillance.
"Instead of considering the scaling down of security as an appeasement to Sinn Féin/IRA, there should be pressure on them to decommission their weapons because clearly the dissidents have access to IRA armaments."
Ulster Unionist and SDLP leaders of the power sharing executive united today to condemn the bomb attack near BBC Television Centre.
First Minister David Trimble claimed dissident republicans were attempting to "pull off a spectacular" ahead of the UK general election and to destabilise the peace process.
He said the incident also underlined the need for IRA to dispose of its weapons.
Mr Trimble said: "There is evidence of material and expertise which has leaked from the mainstream IRA to those who are engaged in these incidents... which is why we continue to press for those dumps to be put out of use permanently and in a way that it could never be used again."
Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon said the bombers were going against the will of the people of Ireland, north and south, "demonstrated clearly in the referendum on the Good Friday Agreement".
PA