The face-to-face meetings between the Ulster Unionists and Sinn Féin at Stormont are expected to continue well into the night, as efforts to break the political deadlock are intensified. It is thought that the chairman of the talks, Senator George Mitchell, wants to complete his review of the Good Friday Agreement this weekend. In a statement issued earlier today, the Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said that the parties were now at the most critical stage of any of the negotiations during the Peace Process. He said that his party understood the difficulties the process presents to Unionists but said that now was the best opportunity for their political leaders to take charge. Sources at the talks indicate negotiations may last through the night as efforts intensify to reach agreement.
This afternoon David Trimble faced questions on the state of the negotiations at a meeting of the 110-member Ulster Unionist executive. Mr Trimble's meeting with the Executive followed Unionist concern that he might form an executive with Sinn Féin ahead of IRA decommissioning. Speaking before a meeting at Hillsborough in County Down last night, the MP William Ross said opponents of the accord were relying on Mr Trimble him to stick to the promise of 'no guns, no government'. The meeting was organised by the party's 'Union First' group. It was also attended by the Lagan Valley MP, Jeffrey Donaldson, and Assembly members Roy Beggs Junior and Peter Weir. Mr Ross told reporters that Mr Trimble's handling of the negotiations were being viewed with suspicion by many Unionists.
