Hume calls for the peace process to be kept going

The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, said politicians had to face reality and find a way out of the political stalemate caused by yesterday's failure to appoint an executive, and the institutions that followed from devolution.

Mr Hume said he fully supported his deputy leader, Mr Seamus Mallon's, decision to resign as Deputy First Minister "We must do all in our power, and I hope all parties will do all in their power, to implement what is the clear will of the people who want to keep the progress going, who want to see lasting peace and stability. This is the best chance we have ever had of achieving that, and we must do all in our power to achieve it," he told reporters at Stormont.

"That means in practice that in this review situation we will work closely with the two governments and all parties to do everything in our power to achieve the implementation of the agreement in all its aspects," added Mr Hume.

"The consequences of any alternative are so bad that it is clearly the responsible duty of every party to do everything in their power to implement this agreement," he said.

All parties should strive during the review period to achieve an inclusive executive and institutions, decommissioning by May 2000, and the implementation of the decommissioning process under the aegis of Gen John de Chastelain's decommissioning body.

Mr Hume said he supported Mr Mallon "100 per cent" in his decision to resign as Deputy First Minister. "What Seamus has done by his decision is to concentrate the minds of all the parties about what really has to be done now to move forward," he added.