The Irish Republican Army (IRA) on Thursday declared an end to the 35 years of violence against the British rule, unleashing strong response from the world.

In a DVD recording, IRA veteran Seanna Walsh announced that the group "formally ordered an end to the armed campaign" and its members had been instructed to disarm "as quickly as possible."

The IRA also asked its members "to assist the development of purely political and democratic programs through exclusively peaceful means."

The declaration immediately triggered off worldwide response, mostly warm affirmation of the "historic" event.

"This decision, if fully implemented, will be a watershed in the history of Northern Ireland," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

The president of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell, praised the IRA move as an "important step forward" amid efforts by European countries to fight against terrorism.

Britain and Ireland both hailed the "historic development."

"We welcome today's developments concerning the IRA," said British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart BertieAhern.

"Both governments are hopeful that the practical elements of this statement will be implemented in the terms set out," they added.

The Roman Catholic paramilitary group was founded in 1969 in Belfast, with the aim of abolishing Northern Ireland as a predominantly protestant corner of the United Kingdom. The clash has ever since claimed 3,650 lives.

IRA's renunciation of use of violence also met with applause from its Sinn Fein political wing.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said, "There is a time to resist.... There is also a time to engage, to reach out, to put the war behind us all.... This is that time."

The United States, Britain's closest ally, urged the IRA to match its words with action.

"This IRA statement must now be followed by actions demonstrating the republican movement's unequivocal commitment to the rule of law and to the renunciation of all paramilitary and criminal activities," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

Former US president Bill Clinton, who became the first US leader to spur Britain to negotiate with Sinn Fein, said the IRA move was "potentially the biggest thing to happen in this peace process since the Good Friday agreement" of 1998.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in a message of congratulations to Blair exalted the IRA announcement as "enormously hopeful news."

Canadian Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew described the IRA statement as "an unprecedented opportunity to advance the peace process."

The IRA declaration came after two years of diplomatic showdown between the IRA and its allied Sinn Fein party on the one hand, and the world community on the other.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2005)