Unionist veto still in place, says McLaughlin

The Irish and British governments were sharply attacked by the party chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin. He claimed they had allowed Mr David Trimble to reduce the peace process to the single issue of decommissioning.

"One year on, the unionists, assisted by the two governments, are proving that politics can still be subverted by those who fear change.

"The unionists are demonstrating that their veto over change remains in place and that by threatening to walk, by carrying around letters of resignation and refusing to talk, they can impose their very narrow perspective on the rest of us," he said.

Sinn Fein, he continued, had experienced "broken promises and mixed opportunities" during the past year.