Campaign trail:Hostility between the DUP and the Ulster Unionists has been stepped up, with the DUP's Ms Iris Robinson making a strongly worded attack on Mr David Trimble's negotiations with Sinn Féin.
Ms Robinson, the MP for Strangford, said a vote for the UUP was "a vote for more concessions to the IRA". She added: "No unionist who is contemplating how they should cast their vote at the Assembly election, should be under the impression that a vote for any David Trimble-endorsed Ulster Unionist candidate is anything other than a vote for more concessions to the IRA. All votes cast for UUP candidates, regardless of their personal views, will be used by Trimble and McGimpsey to continue the conveyor belt of concessions after this election." She went on to restate allegations against the Ulster Unionists, which they have vehemently denied, concerning UUP support for devolution of justice and policing powers and the possibility of Sinn Féin's Mr Gerry Kelly becoming minister.
Both Sinn Féin and the SDLP returned to their criticisms of the DUP on other issues.
Speaking in Edentubber, Co Louth yesterday, the Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, insisted again that the Belfast Agreement was not up for reconsideration.
"There cannot and will not be any renegotiation of the Good Friday agreement. There can be no new agreement. But there obviously is a need to make sure the unfinished business of the agreement is completed."
Referring to the breakdown in "choreography" at Hillsborough on October 21st, which was supposed to have paved the way to restoration of the agreement's institutions, Mr Adams also criticised the British and Irish governments. He said London and Dublin had tested republicans' patience to the limit, and he further criticised Mr Trimble for his response to the last act of decommissioning by the IRA and the statements by both Sinn Féin and the Provisionals.
"It beggars belief, and it is totally unacceptable, that the entire peace process should be put on hold because the UUP were not satisfied with the IICD description of the IRA initiative." Addressing the two governments, Mr Adams added: "There is a particular onus on Dublin and London to honour the commitments which they made as part of the overall agreement.
The SDLP also stepped up its attacks on the DUP, with West Tyrone candidate Mr Joe Byrne singling out the possible introduction of water charges.
"Action against the failures of our water system ought to have been a priority for the appropriate minister in the last assembly," said Mr Byrne. "That minister was Peter Robinson and he refused to act. His failure has made the DUP the party responsible for the threat of water charges.
"The DUP are doubly responsible for the water charging threat. Their inaction in government and their plans to wreck the agreement could cost us all.
"DUP inaction let direct rule ministers propose water charges. DUP wrecking would let them get away with imposing water charges and the average household here will be paying an extra £400 for water alone," he added.
Mr Peter Robinson said the claims were "utterly absurd".