The North's Policing Board is attempting to find a compromise between the Chief Constable and the Ombudsman over the Omagh investigation.
If one can be found, it could help to defuse the tension between Sir Ronnie Flanagan and Mrs Nuala O'Loan over the investigation into the 1998 bombing.
Both Sir Ronnie and Mrs O'Loan had separate private meetings with the board yesterday at which they introduced their respective reports on the bombing investigation and answered questions from members.
It is understood that the non-party members of the board could play a vital role if a way forward is to be found. Other party-nominated members, who are dividing along traditional lines, made their positions clear in advance of the meeting in Belfast yesterday.
For the UUP, Lord Kilclooney, formerly Mr John Taylor, called for the resignation of the Ombudsman. "She has clearly overstepped her responsibilities," he said. "I have no confidence in Mrs O'Loan as Ombudsman."
The DUP's Mr Sammy Wilson said: "She has adopted a stance which is fairly uncompromising, and that is unfortunate."
The three SDLP representatives on the 19-member board insist that the call by their leader, Mr Mark Durkan, for an outside officer to head the Omagh investigation should be met. This is one of the six recommendations made by Mrs O'Loan in her report. Sir Ronnie has insisted that Det Supt Brian McArthur should remain in charge. He accompanied Sir Ronnie to yesterday's meeting, a signal widely interpreted to mean that Sir Ronnie would not easily change his mind.
One board member told The Irish Times that Mrs O'Loan could be criticised over her use of language in her report while pressure could be applied to the Chief Constable to appoint an outsider to investigate the Omagh bombing.
Earlier this month, Sir Ronnie said he would bring in a senior officer from Merseyside to act as an adviser to the investigation while Det Supt McArthur remains in control.
Well-placed political sources at Stormont also thought a compromise along these lines was possible.
Sinn Féin yesterday insisted that the Policing Board should not be seen as neutral referees. Speaking at Stormont yesterday, Mr Gerry Kelly said that the board was not in a position to broker a deal. "While the Policing Board can make recommendations, they don't actually have the power to change anything," he said.
Sinn Féin has not taken its seats on the board, arguing that its powers must be enhanced by the British government. Pressure has increased on the party to sign up to the new arrangements. President Bush's special adviser on Northern Ireland, Mr Richard Haass, called on Sinn Féin last month to participate on the board and work for change from within.
Yesterday's meeting was also attended by Mr Dan Compton, a member of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and a former chief of the Nottinghamshire force.
The Policing Board meets again tomorrow.
PA adds: The Northern Secretary of State, Dr John Reid, will visit Washington next week for meetings with US politicians. A Northern Ireland Office spokesman confirmed that Dr Reid would hold talks with senior figures in the Bush administration. He is expected to meet Mr Haass and the Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell.