Ard Comhairle (national executive) representative Pol Little said:

"Today's arrests are a blatant attempt by the RUC to initiate a cover-up into their own actions and that of their agent John Bowen.

"John Bowen, a British agent provocateur walked into the IRSP offices yesterday (Wednesday) morning. He said he had been pressurised by the RUC into working for them, and that he wanted the RUC, in his own words, 'off his back.'

"John Bowen also informed the IRSP that he had been encouraged by his RUC handlers to suggest to the INLA the murder of a small time drugs dealer in south Belfast.

"Given that the INLA has been on cease-fire since the 22nd of August 1998, the IRSP view this attempt by the RUC to commission a breach of that cease-fire as extremely serious.

"Thus a press conference was called by the Party and was attended by John Bowen on Wednesday morning high-lighting his claims against the RUC. John Bown then left the press conference with a well respected cleric."

The IRSP representative concluded, "These arrests of IRSP members by the RUC on Thursday morning are a blatant attempt to muddy the waters and deflect attention away from the RUC's attempt to initiate a breakdown of the INLA cease-fire."