The DUP has insisted it has no more to do or say on the policing deadlock after Sinn Féin's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness yesterday warned that there was now a "huge question mark" over whether the scheduled ardfheis on policing would take place.
Mr McGuinness said that the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, must provide further commitments on his party's willingness to share power in March and accept the devolution of policing powers to a Northern Executive by May next year.
"If that doesn't happen then there is a huge question mark over the Sinn Féin ardfheis," Mr McGuinness told The Irish Times last night.
Against a background of impending crisis in the political process the British prime minister Tony Blair on Thursday published his assessment that Sinn Féin was prepared to properly endorse the PSNI and that the DUP was prepared to share power by March and accept the transfer of policing powers by May 2008, as envisaged in the St Andrews Agreement.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams generally accepted that assessment while Dr Paisley "welcomed" the assessment but equally gave no personal commitment to share power by March 26th or accept the devolution of policing powers by May next year.
Nonetheless, Downing Street and the Northern Ireland Office interpreted Dr Paisley's welcoming of Mr Blair's statement on the matter as acceptance of the prime minister's assessment.
Last night, however, Mr McGuinness contradicted this position. "While everyone wants the process to continue to move forward it is pointless pretending the DUP has agreed to share power by March 26th or to the timetable for the transfer of powers on policing by May 2008 when they clearly have not," he said.
More was needed from Dr Paisley to ensure the ardfheis would take place, said Mr McGuinness. "If Ian Paisley can tell us he agrees with, rather than just welcomes, the prime minister's assessment then we can move forward," he added.
DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said the issue of potential political progress rested solely with Sinn Féin. "Clearly Sinn Féin is experiencing severe difficulties on the necessity to give full support to the police, the courts and the rule of law. We are not in the business of making their task any more difficult but in reality they themselves must face up to delivering on the policing issue," he said.
"Dr Paisley issued a very full statement outlining the position of the party [on Thursday] and both Downing Street and the Northern Ireland Office have acknowledged their satisfaction of it. The DUP does not have anything further to say or do on these matters. We stand ready and are fully supportive of the police, the courts and the rule of law. Only those who are so committed can be eligible for government in Northern Ireland," he added.
Mr Adams said that over the weekend he would deliberate on whether the ardfheis will take place while he and Sinn Féin's party officers are also to meet on the issue on Tuesday. Another ardchomhairle on policing may be called by the officers.
In the meantime, according to Mr McGuinness, contact will be maintained with Mr Blair and through him the DUP. "These are not insurmountable issues, but others, including the two governments but in particular the DUP, have to play their full part," he said.
Meanwhile, Northern Secretary Peter Hain repeated Mr Blair's warning that if policing and the devolution of policing powers were not resolved there would be no election on March 7th and no devolution.
"It is absolutely vital, at this initial moment, that everyone concentrates on the big picture," he said yesterday.
"For it to fall at this point, on the issue of a timeframe for the devolution of policing and justice, would be a big mistake," added Mr Hain.