Assembly suspension 'likely option'

The SDLP held a two-hour meeting with Mr Blair

Suspension of the devolved Northern Ireland institutions is the most likely option for the government in the coming days, the SDLP leader has said.

Mark Durkan was speaking after talking to the prime minister as a round of meetings takes place to discuss the latest crisis to hit the Northern Ireland political process.

Allegations of IRA intelligence gathering within the Northern Ireland Office are threatening the future of the power-sharing administration at Stormont.

Speaking after talking to Tony Blair on Wednesday, Mr Durkan said confidence could be restored in the Agreement.

Mark Durkan: "Suspension is likely option"

However, Alliance Party assembly member Seamus Close said a temporary exclusion of Sinn Fein was the only way to save devolved government.

"Now is the time to take action to save the institutions, to expel Sinn Fein on the basis of a motion from the secretary of state and enable the executive and assembly to work," he said.

"Sinn Fein would still be in the assembly, it is just excluding them from the executive.

"We then move forward, there will be an election probably next May, and the exclusion would end with that election."

'Private army'

The UK and Irish prime ministers are to hold a crisis summit later on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in the ailing Northern Ireland political process.

It comes a day after the Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said his party would pull out of power sharing within a week unless the UK Government proposed the expulsion of Sinn Fein from the executive.

Mr Durkan said if the political institutions were suspended next week, it would mean the Agreement was "injured but will not be crippled".

The deputy first minister said there now needed to be a meeting of the British-Irish inter-governmental council.

David Trimble: Issued ultimatum

He said the overall situation would be aided if "there was no IRA for people to worry about".

"We can't be expected to support exclusion (of Sinn Fein ministers) in these circumstances," said Mr Durkan.

"Equally, the Ulster Unionist Party can't be expected to continue on in the executive indefinitely in these circumstances."

Prime Minister Tony Blair said he needed to know from Sinn Fein that its members were committed to "exclusively peaceful means" if the process was to succeed.

In an interview with the BBC World Service, Mr Blair said it was up to all the parties, as well as both governments, to recognise their obligations under the Good Friday Agreement.

Exodus

Mr Trimble called on Mr Blair to send a motion for debate at the Northern Ireland Assembly, or his party would have "no alternative" but to withdraw from the Stormont government.

Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Bournemouth, Mr Trimble said he hoped the government "realises that there is an historic opportunity here and there has been for the last four years".

"We do want to see it work, but it will only work if those involved in paramilitary activity are put under firm and consistent pressure for them to move towards a purely peaceful and democratic means."

Meanwhile, at a news conference in Belfast on Wednesday, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said the British Government should not act outside the Good Friday Agreement by suspending the political institutions or expelling his party.

"The job of the British government is to minimise the damage that will be done by any exodus of the unionists," he said.

Gerry Adams: "Government must minimise damage"

"Blair has been good on the issue. Now is the time for hands of history and for him to show that he is a guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement."

Mr Blair has said he is "absolutely determined" to find a solution to the political deadlock.

On Tuesday, Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid said the government would not decide what steps to take until it had consulted with the other main Northern Ireland parties.

DUP leader Ian Paisley accused Mr Trimble of trying to shift the responsibility for dealing with Sinn Fein on to the UK Government.

The allegations of intelligence gathering were also debated by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The debate followed the police raid on Sinn Fein's Stormont office, and addresses in north and west Belfast, on Friday.

Four people were arrested. Three have appeared in court accused of having information of use to terrorists.

A fourth person is still being questioned by police investigating alleged IRA intelligence gathering.