On May 7, 2000 the Irish Republican Army made its most groundbreaking pledge since its cease-fire six years ago: to "put IRA arms beyond use" and allow independent inspections of its hidden arsenals.

The promise is part of a plan that, if approved by the Protestant Ulster Unionist party, will restart the historical power-sharing government of Protestants and Catholics, which was deactivated in February after just 10 weeks.

The plan also includes speeding up withdrawl of British troops, continuation of the release of IRA political prisoners, and renaming and revamping of the provincial police force.