Ulster: Peace talks resume

The discussions come amid claims that the bid to revive the Stormont power-sharing administration has only two weeks to succeed.

With speculation growing that the IRA is set to declare an end to its war in an attempt to rescue the peace process, the talks have entered a critical phase.

Both republicans and the British government confirmed a deal must be hammered out soon if new Assembly elections are to be held in mid November.

One informed Sinn Féin source said: “There are serious negotiations going on involving ourselves, the Governments and the unionists.

“There’s a desire to make it work, but we have to overcome hurdles around the issue of trust and confidence.

“The problem is we have maybe only two weeks to make this work.” Northern Ireland’s power-sharing regime at Stormont has been suspended since an alleged IRA espionage plot was revealed at the heart of the government’s main offices in Belfast last October.

Even Assembly polls due to be held in May were twice called off by British Prime Minister Tony Blair as the political crisis in Belfast deepened, a fresh drive is underway to break the deadlock.

Mr Adams and Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble have met in an attempt to thrash out an agreement.

Republicans want assurances unionists will no longer be able to pull down the Stormont power-sharing institutions.

Further moves to scale down the British Army’s presence in Northern Ireland and extra policing reforms are also at the heart of their demands.

But with Mr Trimble under intense pressure from hard-liners in his party over claims the IRA is continuing its military campaign, unionists have demanded cast-iron assurances the Provos will go out of business for good.

Despite reports that the paramilitary organisation’s rank and file are being prepared for such an historic declaration, republican sources insisted no such move was imminent.

“We were not responsible for the war so to demand they take responsibility for it is not acceptable,” said one.

But he accepted: “If the British government and unionists make commitments then republicans also face a big challenge.” Major difficulties surround the time limit available for an agreement to be reached.

With November 13 pencilled in as a possible date for elections, Mr Trimble would have to call a special meeting of his party’s ruling council in good time to ratify any plans to return to government with Sinn Féin.

Any such gathering has to be flagged up in advance, leaving all sides aware of the short window of opportunity to restore devolution this year.

British government sources cautioned that a deal was still a long way off.

One well placed official warned: “If it’s not done in the first half of October it’s not going to be done in time for Christmas.

“The mood is good and it’s encouraging that Adams and Trimble have met, but people are jumping too far ahead of themselves.”