THE BRITISH government vigorously condemned the Enniskillen bombing yesterday but insisted the peace process would continue despite the resumption of violence in Northern Ireland.
After describing the bombing as a "despicable and cowardly attack", the Northern Ireland minister, Mr Michael Ancram, insisted multi party talks would continue and stressed that the relationship between the British and Irish governments was still "very good".
"We have a very good relationship with the Dublin Government, we have had it for a long time. We know that only by working together as two governments can we actually create the sort of environment that will lead to a long term solution."
However, Mr Ancram criticised the politicians - these would include the Taoiseach and Tanaiste - who had attacked the RUC Chief Constable's handling of the Portadown march.
"I think it is worth actually asking all those who comment to say to themselves: `How many lives do you put in the balance against the right to march or the right not to have a march through your area?' because that's the decision he has to take.
"And I do believe that we, as politicians, have to face that question head on - that no life, no creation of a widow, no creation of an orphan is worth, in my view, the right to march or the right to have a march not going through your area."
The Liberal Democrat Northern Ireland spokesman, Lord Holme, urged the governments to end their war of words" over this week's disastrous events which implicated British ministers and revealed the "recklessness of unionist leaders.