Bush lectures leader on moving forward with action and showing leadership

Bush sees opportunity in IRA pledge to disarm
President urges Catholic, Protestant leaders to seize opportunity for peace

MSNBC News Services
Updated: 1:26 p.m. ET July 29, 2005

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8738475/

BELFAST, Northern Ireland - President Bush told Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams Friday to show leadership and seize the momentum following the pledge to disarm, the White House said.

"The president talked about the importance of moving forward with action and showing leadership," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "The president noted our continuing support for peace and reconciliation for the people of Northern Ireland."

Bush spoke Thursday with Ian Paisley, leader of the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party, which is the main Protestant party in the province. The party has refused to sit in a government with its Catholic opponent Sinn Fein until the IRA proves it has fully disarmed.

On Thursday, the IRA said all of its clandestine units had been ordered to place their weapons in arms dumps and cease all activities, effective at 4 p.m. (11 a.m. ET), but would not formally disband. “The leadership has formally ordered an end to the armed campaign,” the IRA said in a major advance from its opened-ended truce in place since 1997.



di·dac·tic

adj

1. with message: containing a political or moral message
didactic theater

2. fond of instructing or advising others: tending to give instruction or advice, even when it is not welcome or not needed

(Mid-17th century. From Greek didaktikos , from didaskein “to teach.”)

-di·dac·ti·cal·ly, adv
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