WORLD IN BRIEF : BRITAIN : London Clarifies Peace Offer to IRA

Britain issued clarifications to the IRA’s political ally, Sinn Fein, on the Northern Ireland peace plan and said the changes mean there is now no excuse for further violence or “playing for time.” Sinn Fein said parts of the response, the first public document from British ministers to the Sinn Fein leadership, were encouraging. The document gave a substantive point-by-point reply--but little ground--to 20 questions sent last week by Sinn Fein. The symbolic concession of replying to Sinn Fein’s questions makes it harder for the Irish Republican Army to say that the peace declaration agreed to Dec. 15 by the British and Irish governments is unclear and contradictory.