Sinn Féin will await any amending legislation on policing in Northern Ireland before deciding if it can endorse a new police service, party chairman Mr Mitchel McLaughlin claimed tonight.
Mr McLaughlin, who was chosen by his party to contest SDLP leader Mr John Hume's Westminster seat in Foyle, told a selection convention the British and Irish Governments' recognition last week of the need to amend policing legislation was "welcome".
But noting comments from SDLP deputy leader Mr Seamus Mallon that his party is close to making a decision on the police, Mr McLaughlin urged caution.
The Foyle Assembly member said: "We in Sinn Féin have been pressing hard for the legislation to be amended and we welcome the recognition from Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair that the primary legislation on policing was wrong and that amendments are required.
"While that is welcome, in light of the debacle over the primary legislation, Sinn Féin when focusing on any amendments to the Police Act will be taking Tony Blair's assurances with a considerable degree of caution.
"We will be examining the amendments closely to see if they really do deliver the new beginning to policing and would be critical of anyone who adopts an enthusiastic response to promises made by Tony Blair before properly examining what is on offer."
Mr McLaughlin said the British Government's mishandling of the Police Act had proved Sinn Féin was right to withhold its endorsement of police reforms in the wake of the Patten Report until it had seen the legislation brought before the House of Commons.
The Foyle MLA admitted at the selection meeting that he was facing a "formidable vote catcher" in Mr John Hume at the next General Election.
But he said: "I think it is generally accepted, however, that Sinn Féin is steadily increasing its vote in this constituency and we will be building on our performance."
To win the Foyle seat at the next General Election, Mr McLaughlin will have to overturn an SDLP majority of 13,664 in 1997.
There are three other declared candidates for the Foyle constituency: the SDLP's John Hume, the Democratic Unionists' Mr William Hay and Alliance's Mr Colm Cavanagh.
PA