Sinn Féin leader Mr Gerry Adams launched a strong attack on Northern Ireland's First Minister Mr David Trimble in Dublin today.
Speaking after a meeting of his party's policy directing national executive had reviewed the current crisis confronting the Northern Ireland peace process, Mr Adams insisted there would be "no option" other than intervention by both the British and Irish governments following a unionist walkout from the Belfast assembly.
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He also said that the widely-anticipated suspension of the assembly by the British government in the wake of the row that has followed a police raid on Sinn Féin offices would be serving the agenda of the anti-peace agreement campaign.
Mr Adams said: "Mr Trimble knows that there is no basis for his demands for the expulsion of Sinn Fein from the Executive.
"Despite his protestations to the contrary, Mr Trimble favours suspension.
"Mr Trimble's attack on the proposition that the two governments must step in to ensure that those important aspects of the agreement that can be implemented are implemented is ludicrous. He knows that the unionist exodus from the institutions leaves no other option," he added. Mr Adams also rejected suggestions that Mr Trimble might remain as First Minister "in some shadow position". He declared: "If Mr Trimble wants to remain in any capacity he should not walk away from the institutions. If he does walk away then he can expect no special dispensation for himself."
Mr Adams said he had been involved in further discussions today with officials from both the British and Irish governments, adding: "What we are concerned about is that the peace process is in crisis and it has to be managed."
The Sinn Fein leader's comments today followed talks in Dublin yesterday between Mr Trimble and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern. The Dublin government is believed to have made it clear during those discussions that they, too were opposed to plans for a shadow ministry in the wake of any Assembly suspension.
Mr Adams dismissed as "without any foundation or substantiation whatsoever" reports today linking the discovery of fake Irish police uniforms and other equipment near Dublin to the provisional republican movement. The development is being seen as another potential embarrassment for the IRA's Sinn Fein allies following recent development in Belfast and elsewhere.