The Democratic Unionist Party now looks likely to boycott any new discussions on restoring devolved government to the North in protest at the British gvernment's move to scale down security there.
The hardline position emerged after talks between the DUP and the Northern Secretary, Peter Hain, in London.
Relatives of the 1993 Shankhill Road bomb victims also met Mr Hain today.
The DUP's Peter Robinson said after their meeting that the prospects of a return to devolution in Northern Ireland had been damaged by the British goverment's plans.
DUP leader Ian Paisley said there was great bitterness and anger in the Protestant community over the proposals.
Mr Hain said the DUP had expressed extremely strong views in the meeting but he would work with the party to make sure their views were heard.
He said the British government position was that there must be verification of the IRA's stated intentions to end its armed campaign.
It was the first meeting between the party and the British government since plans were announced for a scaling down of security in the North, including the disbandment of the home battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment.
Ian Paisley had condemned the plans as 'a surrender to the IRA'.
Earlier, he called on the British government to ban Sinn Féin from any power-sharing administration at Stormont.
Dr Paisley will meet the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, tomorrow.
