Secretary leans towards suspension of assembly

The suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly looks increasingly likely as efforts continued on Friday in an effort to break the deadlocked political process.

It is thought the Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid who has to make a decision by midnight on Saturday 22 September on what action to take will plump for 24 suspension, creating another six week vacuum.

If the parties cannot agree a last minute deal on IRA decommissioning and British Government demilitarisation, Dr Reid will be faced with three possible options.

He could again suspend the assembly for a short period, or suspend it indefinitely and start a review of the deadlocked process.

The other alternative under the current legislation would be to call an assembly election.

However, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has said that to suspend the institutions for another six weeks would be a “mistake.” He said Dr Reid must demonstrate clearly that progress on decommissioning could be achieved if he opted to reset the clock for a further six weeks.

Speaking at Stormont on Friday he said: “Simply to prolong the situation for six weeks in the hope that something would turn up is a mistake. We expect the government to have the courage to deal with the problems that are there.”

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has said it would be illegal for Dr Reid to suspend the assembly. He said the only option to take was a review of the Belfast Agreement while the institutions functioned. He also challenged those in the media - and some politicians - of exploiting the events in America to put pressure on republicans. He concluded saying “the politics of pressure against the IRA is counterproductive”.

Having met with all of the province’s parties on Friday, the Secretary of State flew to Brussels to meet with Brian Cowen, who was attending a EU summit on terrorism, to review the past six weeks and come to a decision. (AMcE)