Adams calls for clampdown on loyalist attacks

British government "tolerance" of Loyalist attacks on catholics in the North is threatening the peace process, Sinn Féin leader…

British government "tolerance" of Loyalist attacks on catholics in the North is threatening the peace process, Sinn Féin leader Mr Gerry Adams has said.

Speaking at a Sinn Féin meeting in Navan, County Meath, Mr Adams said: "There is a different attitude from the state and from the British establishment to loyalist violence than there would be if the violence was coming from republicans.

Quote
The only threat to the peace process comes from within unionism, rejectionist loyalism, and the securocrats and rejectionists from within the British system
Unquote
Sinn Féin leader Mr Gerry Adams

"The discussions so far today reflect very accurately the anger about the way the British Government is handling the loyalist killing campaign.

"Why does the British Government have a tolerance of those groups and of their existence and their continuing actions?"

READ MORE

Mr Adams also said British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair must "rein in" security agents in Northern Ireland.

He claimed that many such agents were behind sectarian and political killings in Northern Ireland.

"In my view the reason for this is that the British Government has agents in these groups. For almost 30 years they have used these groups as part of their war against Republicanism," Mr Adams said.

Mr Adams is to meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London on Monday as the party sets up offices at Westminster for the first time.

The Sinn Féin leader said he would be passing on the message that "the only threat to the peace process comes from within unionism, rejectionist loyalism, and the securocrats and rejectionists from within the British system".

"That is where the threat to the peace process comes from and Tony Blair needs to face up to that," he said.

"Tony Blair has to reign all of those people in and satisfy himself as to his government's role and of the role of his agencies," he said.

If he did not, said Mr Adams, loyalists would "continue with their campaigning, and what you will see is other people killed on the basis that they are Catholics."

He added: "I am sure that these groups will try and kill people who are Republicans and we have been giving very, very vigorous security warnings to all of our activists in the North."