Brown challenged over NI 'war'

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The DUP has challenged the prime minister to "rubbish" suggestions that the government will recognise the Troubles in Northern Ireland as a war.

Earlier this week, it was suggested the Consultative Group on the Past may ask the government to say it had fought a war against the IRA.

However, during prime minister's question time, DUP MP Nigel Dodds asked Gordon Brown to rule the move out.

Mr Brown said it was important to move forward with reconciliation.

Mr Dodds asked: "Will you take the opportunity once again to pay tribute to the gallant service of the security forces in Northern Ireland over many decades of violence in the fight against terrorism and crime?

"Will you therefore also take the opportunity to rubbish any attempt...to validate or vindicate the terrorists and the criminals in their sordid terrorist war by describing it as a war, and will you utterly rule out any suggestion of an amnesty for terrorists and criminals?"

Mr Brown replied: "Yes, and I think it is important to say two things.

Mr Brown paid tribute to the security services

"First of all, our respect for the security services, for the police, for the armed forces, for the difficult job they did over many years and for the loss of life they had to suffer as a result.

"Secondly, to say that is important that we move forward with reconciliation and I think the efforts on reconciliation that are being made by a number of bodies - including what you referred to - are an important element of building for the future.

"What we want is a safe, secure peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland."

Troubles' legacy

The Consultative Group on the Past was set up to look at how best to deal with the legacy of the Troubles.

It is co-chaired by former Church of Ireland primate Lord Robin Eames and former Policing Board vice-chair Denis Bradley.

The group was established by former Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain with an aim to provide a platform for people to express their opinions on how to deal with the trauma caused by the Troubles.

Sources have said it may ask the government to say the period known as the Troubles was in fact a war, something claimed at the time by republican and loyalist paramilitaries.

Throughout the Troubles, successive governments and the security forces said they were dealing with criminal activity and a breakdown of law and order in Northern Ireland.

The group is due to publish its report in the summer.