Sinn Féin said it has no plans to call an imminent special ardfheis on policing notwithstanding comments about such a conference by DUP MP Nigel Dodds.
The North Belfast MP said last night speculation was mounting that Sinn Féin may be considering calling an ard chomhairle meeting followed by an ardfheis on policing. He said unionists would be watching carefully for evidence of real change from republicans.
Mr Dodds, who is perceived as one of the DUP's St Andrews Agreement sceptics, expressed suspicion about whatever action Sinn Féin took on the issue. "Sinn Féin as always will play the game of attracting maximum press and media exposure," he said.
A Sinn Féin spokesman said there was no plan to call either a special ardchomhairle or ardfheis on policing. He said the position remained as outlined by the party president Gerry Adams that neither an ardchomhairle nor ardfheis would be called until issues such as when policing and justice powers would be devolved to a Northern Executive were settled.