THE political talks at Stormont adjourned yesterday evening until next week after another day of submissions about decommissioning paramilitary weapons.
During yesterday's continuation of the opening plenary session, the Alliance Party, the UUP and the British government all made presentations on the International Body's report.
Meanwhile, a leading UUP officer yesterday again raised the "permanency demand that caused months of political deadlock and stagnation after the IRA ceasefire in August 1994.
Mr Reg Empey, in a speech to a party function last night, called on the Northern Secretary to confirm that he would not admit Sinn Fein to the talks "unless any new IRA ceasefire is proved beyond doubt to be permanent".
Mr Empey warned that there would be no viable talks process on the basis of "a fraudulent ceasefire" combined with "a fudge on decommissioning".
The Lisburn barracks attack meant that the IRA was not committed to the use of "exclusively peaceful means", Mr Empey said. "Without that commitment, Ulster Unionists as well as all other democratic parties would be subject to blackmail if Sinn Fein is admitted to the talks in present circumstances."
Two officers of the Alliance Party - the leader, Lord Alderdice, and the justice spokesman, Mr Steve McBride - are to visit paramilitary prisoners at the Maze Prison this afternoon. They will meet INLA, UDA and UFF prisoners, as well as three West Belfast men who are contesting their conviction for involvement in the so called Casement Park killings of two British soldiers.
As the DUP marked its 25th anniversary yesterday, a new grouping announced the establishment of a Socialist Party in Northern Ireland.
A spokesman said it would campaign to unite Protestant and Catholic working class communities against sectarianism and the Tory government. A conference to inaugurate the party is planned for November.