THE Natural Law Party has pulled out of the North's forthcoming election, saying that the whole process is a fraud.
Last week it nominated 41 candidates to contest the poll in all constituencies.
Announcing the decision to withdraw yesterday, the party's leader, Mr James Anderson, described the election and the peace forum as a time wasting exercise.
The Natural Law Party promotes yogic flying and claims is has scientific proof that transcendental meditation can help create a more peaceful society.
In the European election in 1994, the party came 10th in Northern Ireland. A similar result in the May 30th poll would have secured it a place at the forum and all party talks.
However, Mr Anderson said "The election is a fraud perpetrated by the government in London in order to delay the peace process and the autonomy of Northern Ireland.
"The government's decision to hold the election to create a forum that will go on negotiating about peace is a trick designed to keep the people doing something while no real progress is made. We condemn the government for this tactic to delay peace and confuse the electorate.
"We would be interested in participating in real elections for a parliament of Northern Ireland. That would be an appropriate reason for holding elections. But it is not appropriate to waste everyone's time creating the forum and we are, therefore, boycotting the elections."
It was an insult to ask people to vote for a talking shop, as "those mandated will be asked to negotiate with each other and yet will have no power to implement any decisions," he said. "They can only refer matters back to politicians and civil servants in London."
The withdrawal reduces the list of parties, groups and individuals contesting the election to 23.
There are almost 1,000 candidates contesting 110 seats in the new forum.