The underground Irish Republican Army (IRA) announced Thursday that it was willing to move forward with the Northern Ireland peace process and give up all criminal activities, dpa reported. The IRA distanced itself in a statement from supporters who were involved in organized crime. "The IRA no responsibility for the tiny number of former republicans" engaged in criminal activity "for self gain," the statement said. The IRA declared an end to its violent struggle to end British rule in Northern Ireland in July last year, but it did not end criminal activities like bank robberies, protection rackets, blackmail and alcohol and cigarette smuggling used to finance the organization. ---SP 22 44 Local Time 19 44 GMT
