Adams sees 'no benefit' in independent ceasefire monitoring

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has said that setting up an independent assessor to monitor paramilitary ceasefires would be of "no benefit" to the peace process.

Speaking after his meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary of State Dr John Reid as part of a round of talks aimed at addressing ongoing problems in the political process, Mr Adams said that government pandering to anti-Agreement unionists was causing concern among republicans.

He maintained that the peace process was not there for the benefit of First Minister David Trimble and said that it was not a "Save Dave" process. Rather, he said, it was a process aimed at bringing about change.

With the responsibility to rule on ceasefires remaining with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, the Chief Constable of the PSNI will advise Dr Reid on the status of these ceasefires.

However, Dr Reid said that there was a "widespread feeling" that there should be a more systematic approach to providing information to the public in Northern Ireland on who is committing violence, where it is happening and in what quantities.

Mr Adams is understood to be meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Downing Street, Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in Dublin and with US special envoy Richard Haass within the next few days. He is also understood to be seeking a meeting with David Trimble.

Some leading Ulster Unionists remain committed to getting the party to pull out of the Stormont power-sharing executive.

First Minister David Trimble, who had deferred a decision on his party's continuing role in the peace process until the reconvening of the assembly in September, faces a special meeting of the Ulster Unionist party's ruling council on Saturday September 21.

(SP)