Cancelling vote a 'slap in the face' - McGuinness

Sinn Féin's chief negotiator Mr Martin McGuinness today said the decision by the British government to cancel the Assembly elections in the North was a "slap in the face for the people of this island."

Mr McGuinness was speaking in Dublin today ahead of a day of protests tomorrow - the day the elections were originally due to take place.

The former Minister for Education in the North said the Belfast Agreement was an all-Ireland agreement and that the British decision to cancel the elections was undemocratic. He said it called into question the nature of the relationship between the Irish and British governments.

He said: "Democracy has once again been denied in Ireland."

He added: "Sinn Féin is at the table of democracy … but the British and the unionists have all walked away from the table."

He called on "all the people on this island to protest peacefully and with dignity" and called on the Irish Government to "stand up for itself." He added that he was "not suggesting the Irish Government resort to armed struggle, but should get the message across that there is huge anger at the decision."

Referring to recent revelations about collusion between British military intelligence and loyalist paramilitaries, Mr McGuinness said Britain had the responsibility to inform the Government of the contents of the Stevens Report into collusion.

Meanwhile, Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, who is Sinn Fée;in's leader in the Dáil, called for representation in the Dáil to be given to 18 Westminister MP elected in the North.

Mr Ó Caoláin emphasised that since the British decision to cancel the elections was made, those north of the border with no affinity with Westminister no longer have democratic representation.

Sinn Féin is also calling for reform of the Seanad to include election by a national list system which would give people north of the border the right to vote.