News of Andrews's appointment gets favourable reaction at Stormont talks

As the participants carried out preparatory work at Stormont yesterday ahead of next week's round of substantive talks, politicians also took time to consider their views of the new leader of the Irish delegation, Mr David Andrews.

Politicians generally welcomed or, at worst, were non-committal, about the appointment of Mr Andrews as Minister for Foreign Affairs, although there was some criticism of his role in the failed talks of 1992 when he held the same portfolio.

The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, said that throughout his political career Mr Andrews was a regular visitor to Northern Ireland, and took a detailed interest in the North. "He is very well-informed, and we look forward to working closely with him." Mr Hume also paid tribute to Mr Ray Burke. He sympathised with him on the death of his brother, and praised his energy and dedication and his constructive role in the talks.

The Ulster Unionist Party security spokesman, Mr Ken Maginnis, said he knew Mr Andrews "quite well", having met him during the talks of 1992. Asked if he could do business with him, he said: "The Ulster Unionists have proved over the last 20 years that we can do business with any constitutional politician - although we may not always be able to reach agreement."

Sinn Fein, in a statement, welcomed the appointment of Mr Andrews and hoped he would "engage in the same positive manner" in the talks as had Mr Burke. In the discussions, it was policies and not personalities that counted, the statement added.

An Alliance Party source said it should be able to work with Mr Andrews. The source complained however that during the 1992 talks Mr Andrews displayed some "aloofness and insensitivity to ourselves and the unionist parties".

"We found this disappointing, considering that he was part of the constitutional committee of the mid-1960s which proposed rewording the South's territorial claim to the North," he added.

Meetings of the talks business committee and the liaison committees on decommissioning and confidence-building measures, took place at Stormont yesterday. Talks members also met the International Commission on Decommissioning.

It was agreed that Strand One discussions on the internal affairs of Northern Ireland, and Strand Two North-South talks, would take place respectively on Monday and Tuesday next week.

Next week the parties will be invited to state formally their "principles and requirements" for the remainder of the talks. This will entail setting out their positions on matters such as constitutional issues and a role for any possible Northern assembly.

It will also involve the parties determining the areas where there is general consensus so that when the talks enter their more crucial stages the areas of disagreement will be clearly established.

Meanwhile, the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, has complained to the British and Irish governments that police have deliberately breached the confidentiality of the talks.

Mr Adams said Ms Siobhan O'Hanlon, head of the party's secretariat at the talks, was stopped by the RUC in west Belfast yesterday evening. He claimed the police examined confidential documents relating to yesterday's session.

Mr Adams said Ms O'Hanlon was on her way to meet him to hand over various documents when she was stopped and held for over 30 minutes.

"This is a clear breach of the confidentiality which must surround the talks process. Obviously there are those who have an agenda which seeks to wreck the peace process," he said.

"The actions of the RUC are in keeping with the widespread reports of harassment from British forces from across the North which we are receiving. There is a special onus on the Irish Government to ensure that all citizens in the North are not subject to harassment," said Mr Adams.

The RUC said its patrol acted in a lawful manner. "If a complaint is received it will be investigated," said a spokesman.