Dublin, Ireland ? The Irish Republican Army announced Wednesday it had broken off negotiations with an independent disarmament commission in another backward step for Northern Ireland peacemaking.

The IRA’s decision to stop its slow-moving talks on scrapping weapons a key goal of Northern Ireland’s 4-year-old peace accord followed widespread calls for the outlawed group to disband.

Britain and police chiefs called the move regrettable but predictable, while Protestant leaders said the IRA’s determination to cling to its weaponry demonstrated why they should not be expected to cooperate with the IRA-linked Sinn Fein party.