Durkan calls for an end to inter-party squabbling

SDLP leader Mark Durkan has issued a strong rebuke to pro-agreement parties, urging them not to waste time at the forthcoming talks by pointing the finger of blame at each other.

Mr Durkan spared neither the UUP nor Sinn Fein from his stinging criticism, pointing out that David Trimble's continual threats to bring down the institutions are a "fundamental confidence issue for nationalists", and urged him to fully accept power sharing.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams was lambasted for his insistence that the British government must fully introduce the Good Friday Agreement, while failing to live up to his own party's responsibilities. Mr Durkan demanded a firm statement from Sinn Fein on the future of the IRA, holding this as one of the crucial pillars of the Agreement.

Mr Durkan revealed that for Thursday's talks the SDLP would be seeking agreement from all parties on an "implementation compact" which would deal with all the confidence issues in the process, challenging all pro-agreement parties to face up to their responsibilities.

(GB)