As the formal process begins of transferring power to a Northern Ireland Assembly, the Irish Republican Army said on November 30 hat it is unhappy with the decommissioning timetable.

The republican paramilitary group released a statement describing the Ulster Unionists' effective February deadline for decommissioning as a "clear departure" from the agreement reached in the recent Mitchell review.

However, it confirmed it would still be sending a representative to meet the international body on decommissioning, the crucial concession it made during the talks chaired by former US senator George Mitchell.

The transfer of power from London to Belfast is expected to be completed by Thursday. It comes after Monday's formation of a cross-party government-in-waiting at Stormont, Belfast.

Meanwhile, British politicians gathered on Tuesday to rush laws through parliament to cement a fledgling Northern Ireland government and bolster new hopes of peace.

In a historic step towards devolution, Westminster MPs will pass legislation to switch home rule powers to an assembly in Belfast.

A process which usually takes months will be sped through in two days, allowing Protestants and Catholics on Thursday to take up the reins of power held by British ministers for the first time in 27 years.

Peers in the House of Lords passed the motion on Tuesday afternoon, sending it to the main legislative chamber, the House of Commons, to discuss until midnight. (Xinhua)