Paisley challenges Blair to take action against Sinn Fein

The DUP has challenged the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, to get tough with Sinn Féin.

The DUP has challenged the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, to get tough with Sinn Féin.

The Rev Ian Paisley, speaking after meeting Mr Blair yesterday at Downing Street, said the issue could not be left until May when the International Monitoring Commission (IMC) is due to report on the alleged IRA abduction of dissident republican Mr Bobby Tohill in Belfast last month.

Dr Paisley suggested that the privileges which Sinn Féin is due courtesy of its membership of the House of Commons and the Northern Ireland Assembly should be withdrawn.

"It was our business to put to the prime minister in a very strong manner the fact that the people of Northern Ireland are looking for action on the matter before them of the IRA and their actions on the streets of Belfast.

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"Putting this on the long finger to May is not acceptable to us at all. I really feel that the action is one that the British government and the southern Government have both to discharge," he said. "The time has come for the two governments to show the people both North and South, that this sort of activity must be over for all time."

He also said the SDLP should consider doing business with the DUP and drop its insistence of inclusion of all the major parties. Mr Blair's spokesman said the ongoing talks were part of "taking stock of where we are going with the review of the agreement".

The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, claimed yesterday that the DUP had finally adopted its policy of focusing on paramilitary activity and calling on the British government to refer the matter quickly to the IMC.

He added that Dr Paisley had changed policy regarding the settling of the decommissioning question in advance of political progress.

"Dr Paisley has said that the issue of decommissioning has to be settled. I absolutely agree with him. And it has to be settled before we can have any political progress - that again is being realistic." He then accused the DUP of facing two ways at once.

"Would he then please tell those members of his party who are trying to peddle a proposal where there would be devolution with no decommissioning? \ are trying to get around to power-sharing with Sinn Féin by the back door. They call it a 'corporate assembly' Dr Paisley, and if you'd have a look at that and straighten them out, unionism would be glad."