Blair hopeful of solution on weapons

The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, expressed confidence that the decommissioning deadlock will be broken and the Belfast…

The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, expressed confidence that the decommissioning deadlock will be broken and the Belfast Agreement implemented in interviews on BBC Northern Ireland and UTV yesterday.

He also welcomed a new initiative aimed at ending the Drumcree standoff, the invitation to talks from the First Minister, Mr David Trimble, to elected representatives in Portadown.

"People have died, people are living under a state of siege, other people are wanting to assert their rights to march, over what - a 10-minute march down a street," Mr Blair said.

"I understand the strong feelings on both sides, but let us all look at the big picture here, which is that we have got a chance to build a community where it does not matter whether you are a Catholic or Protestant."