Sinn Féin will only return to the Northern Ireland Executive if Republicans abandon all forms of paramilitary or criminal activity, the British Prime Minister insisted today.
Tony Blair told the House of Commons it would be "far better" to find a way forward which included Sinn Féin but warned that an alternative solution would have to be found if paramilitary activity did not cease.
He was speaking ahead of a meeting with members of the SDLP intended to establish their views on the way forward for the stalled political process.
SDLP leader Mark Durkan will lead a delegation to Downing Street for today's meeting, which follows separate discussions last week between Mr Blair and the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists and Sinn Féin.
Devolution has been in deep freeze since the Northern Ireland Assembly and power-sharing executive was suspended in October 2002.
This morning, Mr Blair stressed there were only two ways forward in Northern Ireland. "One is inclusive of Sinn Féin and for that to happen there has to be a complete end to all forms of paramilitary or criminal activity as the Good Friday Agreement indicates," he said.
"Or, alternatively, a way forward without Sinn Féin which actually depends on [the SDLP]."
Inclusiveness was a "far better" way forward, but not possible without an end to all criminal activity, he said.
The DUP's Nigel Dodds said yesterday's report of the Independent Monitoring Commission exposed again the "deep and continuing involvement" of the IRA and others in all forms of criminality. The report revealed that the IRA remains heavily involved in criminality and is training new recruits.
Mr Dodds demanded: "Can you make it absolutely clear that there will be no question of having terrorists or their frontmen or apologists in the government of any part of the United Kingdom?"
Mr Blair reiterated there must be an end to all criminality before the Executive could be restored. "I can only tell people what the situation is. It's then for them to make their decision - for the Republicans, for yourself, for the SDLP and others," he said.
Mr Blair said the peace process had made "crystal clear" what the issue was and how it was to be resolved. "The only question is whether it can be."