The President of Sinn Féin, Mr Gerry Adams, has said comments he made on the Northern Bank robbery during an interview with a Spanish radio station have been misrepresented.
In an interview with the Madrid station, Mr Adams was reported to have said: "The IRA has said it was not them. I believe them." But then reportedly added: "But maybe I am wrong."
Later Mr Adams insisted his remarks had been misinterpreted.
He said: "Remarks I made today in Madrid in respect of the Northern Bank robbery have been misrepresented.
"I made it clear that the IRA has said it was not involved and that I believed its disclaimer.
"Any other interpretation of my remarks is malicious and misleading." However his comments will put even more pressure on the Government to take action against Sinn Fein.
Earlier today Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble urged the Government to recall the Northern Ireland Assembly to set in motion the system for excluding Sinn Fein from government.
Mr Trimble has written to Tony Blair calling for action to be announced when Ulster Secretary Paul Murphy makes a statement to the House of Commons next week on the Independent Monitoring Commission Report which highlighted Sinn Fein's alleged involvement in the robbery.
The report urged financial sanction against Sinn Fein and said had the Assembly not been in suspension it would have recommended Sinn Fein's exclusion from power.
Mr Trimble said the Government should announce the recall of the Assembly and put a motion before members calling for Sinn Fein's exclusion.
"If the Secretary of State does not announce that next Wednesday then I think huge damage will be done to his credibility, the Government's credibility and the process as a whole," he added.