The Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) has said in a statement it is withdrawing from talks with Sinn Fein because, it claimed, the party was "smeared" by Mr Gerry Adams. According to the IRSP, the party had been exchanging "respective positions" on the peace process with Sinn Fein and judging the "implications for the republican cause".
Mr Willie Gallagher, an IRSP spokesman, claimed that the Sinn Fein president had issued "vitriolic calls" for the disbandment of the party. Sinn Fein, in response, confirmed that talks had been taking place, but said that Mr Adams had not called for the disbandment of the IRSP, but of its military wing, the INLA, which last Friday murdered a retired RUC officer, Mr Cyril Stewart. "Gerry Adams restated that the INLA should disband because its actions, including the killing of Mr Stewart, had brought the republican struggle into disrepute", said a Sinn Fein spokesman.