The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Ian Paisley has met with the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, at Downing Street in London.
Sinn Fein's failure to meet its obligations on policing is a major stumbling block to the restoration of power sharing in Northern Ireland, Prime Minister Tony Blair was warned today.
Democratic Unionist leader the Rev Ian Paisley sounded the warning during an hour-long meeting with the Prime Minister today in Downing Street.
The North Antrim MP claimed: "The attitude of Sinn Fein to the vital question of policing is one of the major stumbling blocks at the present time.
"It is clear that Sinn Fein and the Republican Movement are reneging and postponing the decisions they must take to support the police in Northern Ireland.
"I have conveyed to the Prime Minister the view that there will have to be delivery from Sinn Fein on supporting the Police Service of Northern Ireland, courts and the rule of law. "Until this happens there will be no progress made."
Mr Paisley's warning came 24 hours after the British and Irish Governments announced they would press ahead their plan and timetable for restoring power sharing by next March.
The first key date on the timetable will be November 24 when Mr Paisley and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness are due to be appointed in the Assembly as Shadow Stormont First and Deputy First Ministers.
Fears have been mounting in Belfast, London and Dublin that this target date may not be met because of Mr Paisley's concerns about Sinn Fein's attitude to policing. The DUP wants Sinn Fein to publicly declare support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
To do that, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams must recommend to his party's national executive that there should be a special conference involving party members to debate a change to its policing policy.
Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness have insisted they are not yet in a position to convene a special party conference on policing because they want the British Government and the DUP to provide assurances on a date for the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont.
They also want the DUP to also sign off on the type of government department at Stormont which will handle justice and policing. Sinn Fein has criticised the DUP's North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds for suggesting the transfer of powers may not occur for a political lifetime.
Mr Paisley today said Republicans could not fall short in delivering their end of the St Andrews plan for power sharing.
"I am determined to ensure there is no fudging support for law and order and the Prime Minister is in no doubt that we will not be weakening our position that all parties must fully back the police in word and deed," he warned.