The INLA in Strabane have said that they will not be decommissioning any of their weapons and they have vowed to reserve the right to defend what they described as 'the most vulnerable members of our community.'

In a statement read out at the unveiling of a memorial to INLA volunteers Alex Patterson and James McPhilemy, the INLA said the Good Friday Agreement was a 'failed and flawed agreement' and the northern state was a 'failed political entity'.

The republican group continued: "A squalid deal that exchanges guns for government was not what the republican struggle of the past was about. The INLA will not be decommissioning any of its weapons."

The group added that a return to armed struggle was not a 'viable alternative at this time.'

The group pledged to be 'vigilant in defence of working class communities' but they added they will not be acting a a community police force.

They reiterated that their cease fire was 'solid' and pledged to work to give 'respect and dignity' to working class communities.

Speaking at the same event, Gerry Ruddy paid tribute to the Republican Socialists Memorial Committee for their work in commemorating dead INLA volunteers.

He said: "Behind these memorials are the individual lives of the volunteers, sadly short lives for many volunteers in the republican struggles of the past 30 years who never saw out their allotted span of three score years and ten.

"These individual lives are important and need to be honoured as indeed do those nearest and dearest to the volunteers.

"For those left behind have memories, pain, grief and sorrow to haunt them.

"When one sees the pain, the sadness that permeated people's lives one can only bow one's head in awe at the courage of the people who endured."

Mr. Ruddy said the momument was a 'fitting tribute' to those who had died.

STATEMENTS ENDS