The Ulster Unionist party leader has threatened to cancel the meeting of the party's Council. He is demanding clarification from Sinn Féin on comments reported to have been made by its Vice President, Pat Doherty, in the United States, which appeared to cast doubts on the IRA's commitment to decommissioning. David Trimble warned Republicans not to give the impression they were going to double-cross him. Even when Mr Doherty issued a clarification, insisting that he was fully behind the Sinn Féin policy and was not in the business of misleading anyone, that explanation did not appear sufficient for Mr Trimble.
This evening, the Sinn Féin chairman, Mitchel McLaughlin, emphasised that his party's position had not changed and said that decommissioning was an essential part of the peace process. The Taoiseach also moved to defuse potential problems arising from the reports. Mr Ahern said that he has no doubts about Sinn Féin's commitment to the peace process. Speaking at his constituency office in Dublin today, he said that Sinn Féin had issued denials almost immediately of the reported remarks.
This afternoon, Mr. Doherty said that any suggestion that he had deviated from his party's position on the peace process was entirely wrong. Yesterday, the Sinn Féin vice president was quoted as having told an editorial board meeting of the Boston Herald that he was not sure if the IRA was going to disarm soon. It said that he replied "No, no, no" when asked if he was confident that the IRA would disarm "in the weeks and months ahead". However, this afternoon he said that half-reported remarks or words or comments taken out of context have the potential to cause enormous problems.
He said he was 110% behind the stance taken by his party leader Gerry Adams. Expressing deep concern and dismay at the reports, Mr. Doherty said that Sinn Féin was not in the business of double-crossing or misleading anyone. He said that such a course of action would be disastrous and his party was in the business of making peace.
Speaking on BBC radio this morning, David Trimble said that, if Republicans were to double-cross him, they would pay a huge political price. Next week's meeting of the UUP Council will decide whether or not the party supports the proposals on devolution and decommissioning agreed by Mr Trimble earlier this week. Yesterday, Mr Trimble began, what he described as, a momentous campaign to win their support.
