LONDON, Oct.6 (Xinhuanet) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Thursday met with leaders of Northern Ireland's major political parties to hear their competing demands since the Irish Republican Army (IRA) put their weapons beyond use.
The talks at Downing Street were Blair's first meeting with Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) since the International Independent Commission on Decommissioning announced the IRA's completion of disarmament in August.
Gerry Adams, president of Sinn Fein, IRA's political wing, was expected to ask for the return of paramilitaries who have been on the run to Northern Ireland without being imprisoned, Sky news reported.
He also pressed for further policing reforms and a major reduction in military installations and personnel in Northern Ireland.
DUP leader Ian Paisley called for at least one battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment to stay on in Northern Ireland.
He was also expected to raise concerns about the treatment of Protestant and unionist marching organizations. The march this year saw unprecedented clash which resulted in the injury of over 50 policemen.
It is widely believed that Blair hopes to persuade the parties to back moves to restore the power-sharing Assembly in Northern Ireland next year.
No further details were given about the meeting.
In a related development, around 250 properties in Manchester that worth 9 million pounds (some 16.2 million US dollars) have been searched as part of an investigation into IRA links.
The probe is being carried out by Assets Recovery Agency officials in Northern Ireland.
"The agency has so far identified approximately 250 properties held by both persons and a number of property management companies," the agency said in a statement.
The raids came after the High Court in London granted the agency search and seizure warrants and a disclosure order.
The IRA has been accused of engaging in smuggling and other illegal criminal activities in the last three decades. Enditem | 
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