Hume and Adams meet for TV debate

THE absence of an IRA ceasefire is blocking opportunities for a political settlement in Northern Ireland, the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, told Mr Gerry Adams last night when the two men met for their election television debate.

The SDLP and Sinn Fein leaders were interviewed on Sky television, together with the Alliance leader, Lord Alderdice. Mr David Trimble, the Rev Ian Paisley and the UK Unionist MP, Mr Robert McCartney, were interviewed separately on the programme, as they refused to appear with Mr Adams.

Mr Adams, in response to Mr Hume, said that politicians had to find a way beyond their divisions. He said he was an Irish republican who favoured a united Ireland but he was prepared to argue his position in all party talks.

Mr Adams said the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, had squandered the opportunity for peace created by the IRA ceasefire of August 1994. But he believed there would be a new opportunity for peace after the election.

When the interviewer, Adam Boulton, put it to him that any such opportunity must entail a new IRA ceasefire Mr Adams replied: "It means an end to all armed actions so that proper talks can take place in the best possible circumstances."

Mr Adams accused the unionist parties of having obstructed the search for peace because they were opposed to change.

During the debate between the three unionist leaders, Mr Trimble rejected claims by Dr Paisley and Mr McCartney's colleague, Mr Cedric Wilson, that he had negotiated a secret deal with Mr Hume which would be damaging to the Union.