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| Dr John Reid |
The Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid has suspended the Assembly, for what he hopes will be a brief period, to review the peace process. The move, which is not the 24-hour suspension expected by commentators, was the option favoured by Mr David Trimble's Ulster Unionist Party but only if progress was made on IRA arms.The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said tonight that process should continue to move forward, saying he believed the majority of people wanted the peace process to succeed."However slow and frustrating the process may seem, I believe that the period ahead offers a further chance to bridge differences and secure progress," he said.Sinn Féin have said that suspension might be a step too far for nationalists but in making his announcement today, Dr Reid said a "more polarised political atmosphere would ineveitably" follow an election campaign.
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"I have therefore decided to make an order under the Northern Ireland Act 2000 suspending devolved government in Northern Ireland. The order comes into effect at midnight tonight and I hope the period of suspension will be very short" the Secreatry of State said."It is not legally open to me to announce a defined period of suspension", Dr Reid added, referring to speculation that the duration of the action would be 24 hours.He said the parties were tantalisingly close to agreement on the proposals put forward by the two governments.The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, urged a speedy restoration of the insitutions. "The early restoration of the institutions is vital if we are to build on what has been achieved," hwe said."The Irish Government believes that not one working day should be lost in resolving the outstanding problems so that the Agreement is fully implemented," he continued.Dr Reid discussed his options with British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair last night and had talks with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, this morning.Further talks will take place over the weekend and Dr Reid said he hoped the suspension would be lifted by the end of the weekend.
additional reporting PA