Fresh appeal over Omagh bombing

The Omagh bombing was Northern Ireland's worst guerilla attack

BELFAST, Northern Ireland -- Police have made a new appeal to the public for evidence to arrest those responsible for the Omagh bombing.

Police said on Wednesday they believe they know who is responsible for the attack, but lack the evidence needed to round up the gang and bring them to justice.

A total of twenty-nine people died in the attack three years ago.

Relatives of victims voiced their disappointment with the investigation process when police from Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic re-launched their investigation at a news conference in Omagh.

"I am here to find the guilty," cried Lawrence Rush, whose wife Libby was killed when the bomb exploded in the County Tyrone market town.

Victim's relatives launched an unprecedented court action on Friday against five men they alleged were members of the "Real IRA," an anti-British faction that opposes the peace process.

Split from the Irish Republican Army, the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the bombing.

The Omagh car bomb wounded more than 200 people and was aimed at ruining the Good Friday peace accord of April 1998.

Omagh's police chief James Baxter condemned the bombing as a heinous crime "when we had 29 men, women and children and two unborn babies slaughtered in the town of Omagh."

He added: "If that does not prick anyone's conscience who has information that can place those responsible in a court, then I don't know what would."

Only one person has been charged in connection with the bombing. The man was charged with conspiracy to cause an explosion and is awaiting trial in the Irish Republic.

The IRA turned the peace process into turmoil on Tuesday by withdrawing its pledge to put its weapons "beyond use."

Peace efforts are deadlocked over disputes about IRA disarmament, police reform and reducing Britain's military presence.

Britain must decide in six weeks whether to suspend the province's home-rule government or call fresh elections.