LEADING political figures in the Northern Ireland peace process faced each other across a table last night and called for the IRA to give up the gun and recognise the ballot box.
The senior politicians debated the future of Ulster in front of hundreds of students at the Oxford Union Society.
The speakers were Northern Ireland Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, Mr Kevin McNamara MP, former Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, the Rev Ian Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionists, Mr David Trimble, leader of the Ulster Unionists, Mr John Hume, leader of the SDLP, and Lord Alderdice, leader of the Alliance Party.
Sir Patrick told the audience: "It is a scene in which danger looms over us because, once again, there are those who have gone back to violence and there are those who may go back to violence."
There was a seat at the negotiating table for Sinn Fein. "We want to see that seat filled by Sinn Fein, but on the same terms as a those which have been subscribed to by other parties."
Mr Paisley stressed that Sinn Fein should never be allowed at the negotiating table until they had rejected violence. "I believe the way forward in Northern Ireland is to recognise the ballot box and a declaration by all participants that they will abide by that ballot whether they like it or not."
Mr Trimble said the way forward was proportional representation, while Mr Hume underlined the terrible cost in human life of the Troubles.
"One out of 50 people have been injured or maimed and one out of 500 people have died. We need to take the gun forever out of our small island."
Mr Hume criticised the British government for not debating the issue since that breakdown.
Oxford Union president Rob Harrington told the audience he shad deliberately not invited Sinn Fein to the forum.