Sinn Féin's Mr Martin McGuinness claimed today he was working "flat-out" to get the IRA to give up weapons as Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble flew to Washington to brief US officials on the latest peace process crisis.
But Mr McGuinness also warned that suspension of the power-sharing regime in Belfast could mark the end of the Belfast Agreement.
He said: "I want to see arms put beyond use. I want to see it this afternoon, tomorrow morning. I'm working flat-out to try and achieve that."
His comments came amid continued behind-the-scenes attempts to keep the peace process on the rails as yet another crisis loomed.
All sides were closely watching loyalist paramilitaries too, following the British government’s de-recognition of their ceasefires yesterday.
Twenty-four hours after the declaration there was little sign a backlash by the three groups affected; the Ulster Defence Association, the Ulster Freedom Fighters and the Loyalist Volunteer Force. But Mr Trimble turned the focus on the IRA, challenging Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid to declare its ceasefire over next time the organisation carried out a murder.
Mr Trimble, who is to brief US special envoy to Northern Ireland Mr Richard Haass about the latest crisis, said of the move against loyalists: "I don't think that Dr Reid had much option...
"There are things he can do now in terms of exerting significant pressure on those organisations, and I hope he is actually going to do it," he told Sky News.
"And I would like to say to Dr Reid that next time the IRA murder someone, he will take exactly the same action, because over the course of the last year, the IRA have murdered four people, and nothing has been done about it.
"Dr Reid won't want to look as though he is being biased in his approach."
Mr Trimble is in America until mid-week, meeting figures in Congress as well as the Bush administration. A spokesman for Mr Trimble said the trip was aimed at putting the unionist position forward.
He added: "We believe that the US have an important role to play in Northern Ireland over coming weeks and it is very important that we touch base with decision-makers."
Mr Trimble's absence until then may slow down the plans for his three party ministers to follow him in withdrawing from the Stormont Executive. Sir Reg Empey, who has been acting as First Minister since Mr Trimble resigned, said: "He will certainly be back no later than Wednesday, so we will have clarity no later than Wednesday at the latest."
Mr McGuinness, meanwhile would not say if a move on arms could happen in time to prevent a suspension of the assembly - which would follow the unionist walk-out.
But asked on BBC Radio Ulster's Inside Politicsprogramme if the institutions could survive a fourth suspension, he said: "If the British government suspends the people's institutions and we go into a review, many people will be of a view that it will be highly unlikely that we will see those institutions re-established.
"I think it could herald the end of the Good Friday Agreement - but should not necessarily herald the end of the peace process.
"All of us within the political equation need to continue to work to achieve peace on this island.
"I certainly am one of those people in republicanism ... who want to live in peace with our unionist neighbours. That is an absolute priority."
Earlier Mr John White, chairman of the Ulster Democratic Party, which speaks for the UDA, said he feared the government's move against the organisation may have removed any remaining restraint on individual members of the organisation who were intent on violence.
PA