The North's Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, has dismissed criticism levelled against him by the deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), Mr John Taylor, who said on Monday that Mr Mallon was "pretending" to be an honest broker between the UUP and Sinn Fein.
"I'm used to people like John Taylor. I'm used to that type of irrational abuse," Mr Mallon said yesterday.
"I have fought for a long time - 30 odd years - in opposition to the use of any violence, or threat of violence. I will continue to oppose the use of violence and threat of violence within the community and within the political process.
"When people like Mr Taylor make criticism of that nature I think people on the ground, when they hear it and read it, know exactly what that criticism is worth when they measure it against the realities," Mr Mallon added.
Commenting on the setting up of the shadow executive Mr Mallon said that the UUP would have to sit in government with Sinn Fein at some point and as a result sooner was better than later. "The agreement says that a shadow executive should be formed and I stand by that agreement," he said.
A spokesman for Mr Taylor's office responded: "Being opposed to violence is not good enough. He has to work to ensure that violence does not dictate the way that decisions are made in the new executive."
The Sinn Fein chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, yesterday warned that internal wrangling within the UUP is threatening the credibility of the Belfast Agreement.