UUP Assembly members to discuss arms impasse

The Ulster Unionist Assembly group is due to meet at Stormont this afternoon to discuss Mr Peter Mandelson's plan to suspend the Belfast Agreement institutions next week if there is no gesture on IRA weapons.

Last night, the Sinn Fein president accused the Northern Secretary of being prepared to cave in to the demands of the Ulster Unionist Party. While Mr Gerry Adams reacted angrily to Mr Mandelson's Commons statement, his spokesman said he was still striving to save the agreement and the institutions.

He was in contact last night with different key figures involved in the political process to see if the deadlock could be broken, his spokesman added.

Mr Adams was last night trying to arrange a meeting with the UUP leader and First Minister, Mr David Trimble. At the time of writing, there was no response to the request, according to Sinn Fein. Mr Adams was in contact with Mr Trimble's office twice yesterday. A Sinn Fein spokesman said last night that Mr Adams was exploring the possibility of getting a meeting with Mr Trimble or if that was not feasible, a telephone conversation.

Mr Adams last night said if Mr Mandelson suspended the institutions, he would be in breach of the Belfast Agreement. "Mr Mandelson has given notice that he is prepared to cave in to the demands of the unionists," he added. "This is no way to build confidence among nationalists and republicans. It is a slap in the face to the Sinn Fein leadership which is engaged at this time in trying to save the institutions." Mr Danny Kennedy, a UUP Assembly member, said the party would almost certainly be prepared to wait until next week to determine whether the IRA would make a gesture on arms.

Even if the IRA was to make a commitment to disarm by May 22nd, that would not be sufficient to persuade unionists of its bona fides. "A form of words will not be enough, we want product," Mr Kennedy said.

Sinn Fein's chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, last night criticised the SDLP deputy leader, Mr Seamus Mallon, for "giving succour to the rejectionist unionists". Mr Mallon had asked the Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, in the House of Commons, whether the IRA had been asked if it is going to decommission, and when this would take place. Mr McLaughlin described Mr Mallon's remarks as "deeply disappointing and unhelpful". He said: "Playing the blame game, instead of seeking to solve problems, is only to give comfort to the rejectionists unionists who are currently setting the political agenda. Mr Mallon knows that there is no way back if the institutions are collapsed."