Talks begin at Leeds Castle

Northern Ireland's politicians converged on Leeds Castle today ahead of three days of intensive negotiations aimed at restoring devolution in the province.

Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy and Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen met the parties on Thursday morning before the afternoon arrival of Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern, in what is being seen as the most important negotiations since the lead up to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Speaking ahead of the talks, Paul Murphy said: "What has to be done at Leeds Castle is clear enough. As both the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach have reiterated in recent weeks, the republican movement must finally complete the transition to exclusively peaceful means.

"Paramilitary groups must cease their activities once and for all and their weapons must be put beyond use. In response, unionist must commit themselves fully and wholeheartedly to all the political institutions.

"The peace process cannot be allowed to drift on aimlessly. We have reached a point of decision and I believe that if the will is there on all sides, a deal can be done."

The political institutions in Northern Ireland were suspended in October 2002 amid allegations of IRA intelligence gathering at the Northern Ireland Office.

(MB/GB)