Trimble questions Republican's credibility

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has taken a tough stance following a meeting on Friday morning between a delegation from the UUP and Sinn Féin.

Mr Trimble warned that it will not be possible to maintain the current political détente unless Republicans take steps to restore their credibility.

The First Minister's comments came as he gave his analysis to reporters following the meting with Sin Féin President Gerry Adams and Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness.

The meeting had been called by Mr Trimble to discuss the allegations of possible IRA involvement in the raid on the Police Service on Northern Ireland's Castlereagh Security Complex. Further evidence has recently been produced indicating that the IRA has been collecting intelligence on Conservative politicians and were involved in training Marxist FARC rebels in Colombia.

Mr Trimble in bullish mood said that he had cut off repeated protestations by the Sinn Féin delegation that the IRA had not been involved.

"We cut them short and told them that wasn't the point. We didn't engage in discussion on who did what to whom."

He said that the crucial point was that nobody in the unionist community believed a word that republicans were saying about recent events.

He warned that this disbelief was "rapidly draining the credibility of this administration and this process."

Speaking after the meeting Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said that he was "bewildered" by recent events. He said that were "difficulties within republicanism" both about the events and how others had reacted.

He warned that reaction to the allegations were having a "destabilising effect" which could in turn, have a "wider effect".

(SP)