Adams criticises 'rejectionist' DUP

Dublin and London should consider plans for power-sharing at governmental level and dissolution of the Assembly if the peace …

Dublin and London should consider plans for power-sharing at governmental level and dissolution of the Assembly if the peace process is frustrated by the DUP, Mr Gerry Adams said last night.

Addressing a Sinn Féin dinner in New York, Mr Adams warned London that direct rule was not viable in the long run and accused "rejectionist" unionists of trying to return Northern Ireland to minority rule.

He said the DUP's refusal to talk directly to Sinn Féin and the party's insistence on changes to the Belfast Agreement "would subvert the powersharing, equality and all-Ireland nature of the agreement".

The British government position, Mr Adams told his audience, was to support British national interests and to hold to the Union while modifying the administration of Northern Ireland.

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Calling on Mr Tony Blair to challenge unionist rejectionists, Mr Adams said: "While Mr Blair may be trying to modernise unionism, his strategy and policy mean that inevitably it is the UUP and DUP which are allowed to determine the pace and depth of change. This is in direct contradiction of the agreement."

He said Mr Blair should make it clear to unionists that they could not obstruct the Belfast Agreement which is "as good as it gets".

He told both governments: "It is now time for the two governments to call it. So in the next few weeks I am looking to the two governments to bring forward proposals, rooted in the agreement, to see the full implementation of the Good Friday agreement."