THE IRA admitted responsibility yesterday for a mortar attack on an RUC patrol in west Belfast on Monday evening, and local SDLP representatives trenchantly condemned this further escalation in the campaign of violence.
Police established yesterday that a masked gang had entered the home of an elderly couple in Stockman's Park at about 6 p.m. on Monday and held them hostage for three hours while preparing and launching the mortar attack from their back garden.
An SDLP councillor, Mr Alex Attwood, said local people were not necessarily surprised, but nonetheless were deeply shocked that the IRA had again put the civilian population on the front line in their escalating war.
The West Belfast SDLP MP, Dr Joe Hendron, said the IRA attacks were "stabbing John Hume in the back" in his efforts to secure peace by his talks with Mr Gerry Adams.
In a television interview, Dr Hendron also addressed the IRA directly, saying: "Would you please stop standing on the people of West Belfast?"
The IRA admission was made in a phone call to a Belfast radio station, using a recognised code word.
The Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, claimed the IRA was "longing to get the loyalists fully back to violence".
He said he did not believe it had been established that the loyalist parties had flagrantly breached the Mitchell principles, but "if it is established, then they should go out of the talks".
It was important not to throw people out of the talks unless there was sound evidence on matters of fact, otherwise the High Court might intervene.
As security measures were further tightened throughout the North, four men were arrested in Co Tyrone yesterday and are being questioned about serious crime. A number of men were also arrested in Ballymena, Co Antrim, after a sawn-off shotgun was found in a housing estate.
Last night police said they were treating as suspicious the death of a man whose body was found in the livingroom of his home in Antrim. An investigation was continuing.
The participants in the multiparty talks were involved in a series of bilateral discussions yesterday at Stormont. The UDP and PUP representatives met Sir Patrick Mayhew to explain loyalist thinking, and expressed confidence afterwards that they would be able to remain in the talks process.
Mr Gary McMichael, of the UDP, said that fundamental to the question of their inclusion was the fact that "our parties are active in our opposition to violence".
He said: "We are active in our efforts to make the democratic process succeed."
SDLP delegates also held a meeting with the British government representatives and were thought to have stressed the party's view that both governments, must take a firm initiative to move the process ahead.