The SDLP has accused DUP leader Ian Paisley of being "disgraceful, reckless and inflammatory" after he yesterday claimed that the IRA has withheld some of its weapons to use against the Protestant people of Northern Ireland.
Dr Paisley also accused the British government of engaging in a "cover-up" in relation to IRA decommissioning last October.
He made his claims yesterday after he met the head of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) Gen John de Chastelain in Belfast.
He criticised Gen de Chastelain for informing him that he would not disclose an inventory of what arms were decommissioned by the IRA in October until all paramilitary groups had disarmed.
"We have now a cover-up," said Dr Paisley.
"We have a cover-up by the government who actually are in the controlling seat and they have agreed evidently with the IRA that decommissioning is finished, the books were open, the books were sorted out and this question is now closed.
"The government will not take any step to see that the whole truth comes out on this matter. So I would indict the government of double standards. I would indict the commission for not pushing this thing and saying truthfully if we can't do this job right, we are not going to stay any longer."
In October Gen de Chastelain, with the corroboration of independent witnesses, Rev Alec Reid and Rev Harold Good, said the IRA had decommissioned all its weapons, an assertion he is holding to despite the Independent Monitoring Commission earlier this month saying there were "credible" reports the IRA held on to some weapons.
Dr Paisley, who said he also discussed the issue of loyalist weapons with the IICD yesterday, said that MI5 and the PSNI must now release information about what the IRA had decommissioned.
"They should tell the people what they know so that the people can be forearmed to meet what is going to happen, because those arms are going to be used against the Protestant population of Northern Ireland," he said.
SDLP leader Mark Durkan said Dr Paisley's comments were disgraceful, reckless, and inflammatory.
"They hark back to the 1970s when his wild hate-filled rhetoric fanned sectarian strife," he said.
"On the one hand Paisley says that he raised loyalist decommissioning with the IICD. Then in the next breath he predicts sectarian warfare and gives them the excuse they need to hold on to their weapons," said Mr Durkan.
He said Dr Paisley's comments encouraged paranoia and hate. "His remarks must also prompt a total rethink by the two governments towards the DUP.
"It beggars belief that any government would be considering concessions to a party whose leader at the same time wilfully stokes the flames of hate," added Mr Durkan.
Sinn Féin's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness said Dr Paisley's meeting with the IICD had nothing to do with IRA arms.
"The IRA have dealt decisively with that issue and the DUP know this. What [ the] meeting is about is part of the DUP search for excuses not to engage.
"It is time that the DUP began to live up to their political responsibilities and began showing the sort of political leadership they promised to deliver.
"The time for excuses is over and the two governments need to make this clear to the DUP," he added.
