Talks continue as deadline passes

The deadline for agreement on the North's political future passed at midnight with no immediate sign of a breakthrough. However, talks are continuing at Stormont and it is understood that the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister are likely to remain until there either is a breakthrough or until they are satisfied that one cannot be achieved. In what is being described as significant development, Sinn Féin are believed to have offered to sign up to a timetable on decommissioning. However, the Ulster Unionists have, so far, not shown any sign that they are prepared to allow the formation of an executive before an actual hand-over of IRA weapons begins.

The crucial report on paramilitary decommissioning from the Canadian General, John de Chastelain, is being quickly published and shown to the parties. Its publication had been delayed at the request of the Irish and British governments. Mr. Adams and the Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble, both stated their points of disagreement when they briefly appeared outside Stormont. Mr Adams said that decommissioning, before the setting up of a power-sharing executive was not achievable. Mr. Trimble said that he had received no concrete proposals from Sinn Féin in the course of the last few days of negotiations.

The British Prime Minister has discussed the deadlock with the US President, Bill Clinton. Tony Blair's spokesman said that the US leader would be kept briefed. There is speculation that Mr. Clinton may be in contact with Sinn Féin and Ulster Unionist representatives. Mr Clinton said that he remained hopeful and he again appealed to give peace a chance. Mr. Blair's spokesman was also reported as saying that there could still be agreement by midnight, despite the seemingly irreconcilable positions over decommissioning taken by the Ulster Unionists and Sinn Féin.

The Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader, John Taylor, has described the situation as very bleak. The Sinn Féin Vice President Pat Doherty said that he did not believe the IRA would be decommissioning within the next two or three weeks to facilitate the peace process. The Northern Secretary, Mo Mowlam, told Westminster that there had been a great deal of progress, but that it was difficult to give an assessment while they were continuing. She said that they went up and down.

With only hours to go before the deadline expires for agreement at the Stormont talks, political leaders set out their positions. Both Unionist and Nationalist leaders acknowledged that major compromises are still needed. The North's First Minister, David Trimble, has said that the Republican movement must decide between, what he described as, the party and the army. The Sinn Féin President, Gerry Adams, said that a deal would not be struck without compromise on all sides.

The Northern parties began their third and final day of negotiations at Stormont to try to end the deadlock in the peace process this morning. Arriving at Stormont, Mr. Adams said that he believed the broad shape of a deal within the terms of the Good Friday Agreement was now possible. He said that those who wanted to destroy the Good Friday Agreement had to be defeated, and he described today as D-Day.

The North's First Minister said the moment of truth had arrived. David Trimble said that the Ulster Unionists had an open mind and a readiness to make progress, but there would be no fudging the issues. He called on Sinn Féin to make a commitment on decommissioning. Speaking on RTÉ Radio this morning, the Sinn Féin chairman, Mitchell McLaughlin, said that his party is willing to negotiate and compromise in an imaginative and creative way to secure a deal based on the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.