DUP Calls For Devolution Without Sinn Féin

Adams Claims Paisley Hasn't Been Positive Enough

The DUP this week called for the British government to proceed with devolution in the North without the participation of Sinn Féin.

Despite a positive response to last week's statement by Sinn Féin on policing from both the British and Irish governments, republican leaders claim that DUP leader Ian Paisley hasn't been positive enough for the ard fheis on policing to take place.

Democratic Unionist MP David Simpson claimed Sinn Féin's leadership was backtracking after several resignations, deselections and the possibility of dissident electoral challenges.

"Given that we are likely to see many other dissident candidates stand against Sinn Féin/IRA's internal purge, accelerated splintering and the now inevitable challenge to Adams' leadership, it is clear that Sinn Féin cannot or will not democratise any time soon," the MP for Upper Bann claimed.

"There is now a clear onus on the government to move on without them.

"Let's bring an end to the numerous delays and false dawns.

"Let the prime minister now show leadership and put in place legislation that will allow for the devolution of powers to democratic parties to establish an executive free from the taint of those who still refuse to break free of the morality of a terrorist organisation."

The new acrimony comes after the Irish and British government efforts to secure republican support for the police in the North and power-sharing by March 26th were plunged into a fresh crisis when Gerry Adams suggested that his party's special conference may not go ahead.

Just before the New Year, Sinn Féin's national executive agreed to call an ard fheis in January to put the issue of endorsing policing in the North to a vote of its members.

At the time though, the decision was said to be dependent on receiving a positive response from the Irish and British governments and from the DUP.

While Sinn Féin welcomed assessments from the British Prime Minister over the last week on what is needed from republicans and the DUP if power-sharing is to return, its leadership warned that Mr Paisley has not been positive enough.

Sources within Sinn Féin confirmed that the officer board, meeting on Tuesday could call another meeting of its national executive, which would take place later this week, possibly on Friday or Saturday.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who cut short his Christmas vacation to deal with the new crisis, was said to be preparing a new statement on the future of MI5 in the North - a key demand of republicans.

Sinn Féin has maintained that MI5 must be completely separate from civilian policing in the North, while PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde supports MI5's continued presence to deal with national security issues.

Sinn Féin's policing spokesman Gerry Kelly said he was awaiting the Prime Minister's statement with interest, saying, "The British government have now indicated that they are to make a new statement regarding the role of MI5. This statement must put in place mechanisms to ensure the complete separation of MI5 from civic policing.

"There can be no integration of MI5 and the PSNI. All PSNI members must be fully answerable to the Patten accountability mechanisms, hard won in negotiations."