THE Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, and the Alliance Party leader, Lord Alderdice, had talks on the North yesterday.
The two men said afterwards that they had had a good meeting, despite their differences over the treatment of Sinn Fein. Mr Ahern said there was still an opportunity, albeit weakened, for Sinn Fein to come into the political process. Lord Alderdice said, however, the talks should now go ahead without Sinn Fein.
There were critical days ahead, Mr Ahern said, and a government led by him would "lend our confidence and support to the people trying to overcome the difficulties".
