British blamed by Adams for crisis

The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, has stated that no "sensible republican" wants to see a resumption of the conflict but that he cannot offer guarantees that the paramilitary war is over.

While the British government and pro-Belfast Agreement unionist politicians have been urging republicans to show some willingness to compromise on the weapons issue, Mr Adams yesterday insisted that the blame for the current crisis lay with the British government and unionism.

Sinn Fein's chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, was also lukewarm about the expressed willingness of the Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr Trimble, to meet the IRA if it could help break the deadlock over decommissioning.

Mr Trimble told RTE's Prime Time programme on Tuesday night that he offered to meet the IRA during the Mitchell review last November, and that offer was still on the table.

"That's a matter for David Trimble and the IRA. If he wishes to embark on that type of initiative that is a matter for David Trimble," said Mr McGuinness yesterday.

The two governments fear that without some speedy compromise on the arms question from republicans and from pro-agreement Ulster Unionists that the Belfast Agreement will remain in suspension for several months.

Without a breakthrough by Easter they are concerned that subsequent republican commemorations and the mainly loyalist marching season will block any opportunity for progress until next autumn at the earliest.