Sinn Fein has criticised the appointment of two anti-agreement Ulster Unionists, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson and Ms Arlene Foster, to a party group established to devise UUP strategy in any review of the implementation of the Belfast Agreement.
Mr Pat Doherty of Sinn Fein said the appointments amounted to a "slap in the face" for those who wished to see an end to the political stalemate.
"If David Trimble was serious about implementing the Good Friday agreement he would face down the rejectionists within his own ranks, not promote them," he said. Other members appointed to the group by the party leader include, the deputy UUP leader, Mr John Taylor, the party chairman, Lord Rogan, the UUP security spokesman, Mr Ken Maginnis, and Lady Sylvia Hermon, the wife of former RUC Chief Constable Sir John Hermon.
Former UUP executive ministers Sir Reg Empey and Mr Michael McGimpsey will also sit on the advisory group.
Mr Taylor last night said the UUP had "bent over backwards" to make a success of the Belfast Agreement but republicans had no intention of decommissioning. In the absence of decommissioning before May 22nd, the SDLP should proceed without Sinn Fein to re-form the executive, he added.
"If there is no decommissioning there can only be an executive and revived assembly at Stormont if the SDLP agree with the UUP and other democratic parties not linked to paramilitary groups to form a new executive. If the SDLP refuse this opportunity then the suspended assembly will be closed down as a failure," said Mr Taylor.
The North's Security Minister, Mr Adam Ingram, yesterday met the smaller pro-Agreement parties for briefings in place of the Northern Secretary, Mr Mandelson, who was concluding his visit to the US.
Ms Monica McWilliams, of the Women's Coalition, admitted she had a "difficult" discussion with Mr Ingram over the crisis. She stressed that the May 22nd deadline on decommissioning contained in the Belfast Agreement should not be viewed as a deadline in the current situation.
"If we're in a stalemate, decommissioning is not going to happen but May 22nd seems to be in his head as some sort of deadline as it is with unionists," she said.
Mr Gary McMichael, the leader of the Ulster Democratic Party, which represents the UDA/UFF, said loyalists were identifying with the process less and less. "If they feel that, then the Good Friday agreement is ebbing away," he added.
"If republicans aren't prepared to play their part, then maybe they can't be part of that at this point but it's not acceptable for the process to continue in the kind of limbo that it is in."
The Alliance party leader, Mr Sean Neeson, said St Patrick's Day, when many of the North's politicians travel to the US, may provide the next opportunity for political progress. "We can't afford to wait or greater credibility will be lost with the community. But people have got to start looking at what is realistic and achievable," he said.
Mr David Ervine said his party had stressed to Mr Ingram the need for all parties to draft a formula to overcome the logjam. "This process cannot be left rudderless," he said.