Unionists could collapse the Northern Ireland political process if concessions to republicans continue, the British government was told today.
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The threat came as the Taoiseach Mr Ahern was meeting British prime minister Mr Tony Blair in Downing Street to review progress on policing in the North and other aspects of the Belfast Agreement.
The two leaders were expected to discuss the work of Northern Ireland's fledgling 19-member Policing Board and efforts to persuade Sinn Féin to end its boycott on taking its seats on the body.
However Ulster Unionist MPs Mr David Burnside and Mr Jeffrey Donaldson said it was clear the two governments were working on an agenda that had been worked out above the heads of unionists.
They cited plans for legislation to give an amnesty to IRA men on the run from justice and further moves to, as they see it, weaken policing in the North.
"We want to make it clear to the [British] government that the whole process is in danger of collapsing if there is going to be legislation for an amnesty," they said. They also said it was clear that Mr Ahern was pressing for further moves on policing which unionists could not support.
If the British government pressed ahead, the Ulster Unionist Party and the Democratic Unionist Party would have to "put the whole process into question", the MPs said. "We have no sanction but to withdraw".
They pointed to weekend comments from Mr Ahern when he ruled out going into coalition with Sinn Féin after the General Election, which isexpected to take place in May.
Mr Ahern said he could not share power with Sinn Féin unless they clarified their position on supporting the Garda and the Army.
Mr Burnside and Mr Donaldson said: "Let's have the same standards in Northern Ireland".
PA