As the peace process enters a critical 10-day period, the British Prime Minister is considering inviting the Ulster Unionist team in the Stormont Assembly to Downing Street as part of his campaign to ensure the success of the latest Anglo-Irish initiative.
Mr Blair is to make a statement in the House of Commons today on the latest developments. A number of media appearances are also planned in order to persuade unionists of the need to nominate ministers to a new, inclusive executive on July 15th.
Mr Ahern has also launched a campaign to ensure the proposals are accepted. In an interview with RTE Radio he called on the IRA to make a statement to ease unionist fears over decommissioning. However, republican sources expressed serious doubt that any such statement would be forthcoming.
There was general satisfaction in political circles that the Drumcree events organised by the Orange Order yesterday morning went off quietly. Senior sources said the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume and the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams would respond positively if the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble sought their co-operation in devising a solution to the Drumcree dispute based on dialogue and consent and acceptable to both sides.
Reports that a decision to allow the Orangemen onto the Garvaghy Road was imminent, and that this was being taken in an effort to ease political pressure on Mr Trimble, were greeted with scepticism by official sources. A sustained period of calm and restraint was required before any such move could be considered.
Meanwhile, senior UUP sources said it would be helpful if there were assurances from Dublin that the changes to Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution - due to take effect after the devolution of powers to a northern executive - would remain in effect if that executive subsequently had to be suspended because of problems over decommissioning.
The Irish Times understands that the Attorney General, Mr David Byrne, is being consulted about this matter and on the issue of whether legislation in the Oireachtas would be needed to provide for suspension of north-south bodies as part of the "failsafe" provisions in the Blair-Ahern document.
Reports that the Northern Secretary was about to be moved from Belfast to a different cabinet post were described as "bunkum" by British government sources. The Prime Minister was still "making up his mind" on Dr Mowlam's next assignment, but there had been no developments and there was no question of moving her as a concession to critics in the UUP.
The party officers of the UUP discussed the Blair-Ahern document at their headquarters in Belfast's Glengall Street yesterday. Several of the officers campaigned against the Belfast Agreement and UUP sources described the reaction to the latest document as one of "controlled fury".
Leading unionists were said to be somewhat demoralised by the difficulties over the text of the document and the mainly negative reaction inside the party to date. However, government sources remained confident the plan would work.
In addition to the difficulties faced by the unionists, the Sinn Fein leadership is expected to have some problems persuading its rank-and-file to accept the document. Senior sources said they would have to go to "every single part" of the island to sell it.