PM holds talks on NI

David Trimble pictured after his meeting with Tony Blair

The prime minister has held separate talks with the Ulster Unionist Party and SDLP on the issues currently stalling political progress in Northern Ireland.

The talks were held against a background of negotiations aimed at breaking the political deadlock over decommissioning, demilitarisation and policing reform.

Tony Blair met Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble.

Later a delegation from the SDLP, including leader John Hume and his deputy Seamus Mallon had an hour long meeting.

Speaking after his meeting, Mr Trimble said it was now "decision time for nationalists and republicans" over the future of the political process.

Seamus Mallon and John Hume: Hour long meeting

He also said he wanted to see an end to the "carping" over the new police service.

The SDLP leader John Hume said, after leaving Downing Street, that a "new format was needed to try to resolve outstanding issues".

The talks were held as nationalists and republicans continue to resist pressure to endorse the new policing arrangements.

Despite this the government is preparing to press ahead with a recruitment drive for the new service later this week.

It is expected that Protestants and Catholics would be recruited on a 50/50 basis.

Protestants currently make up 92% of the RUC.

On Tuesday, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams urged nationalists and republicans not to apply to the new service.

Seamus Mallon said it was "too early to make a final decision about the proposed new police service".

But David Trimble said it was now time for "hard decisions" to be taken on policing.

Mr Trimble said the recruitment drive was being started because of operational need.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the Northern Ireland parties would soon have to "call" on the issue.

Speaking in the Dail on Tuesday, Mr Ahern said his government would make its position known within the next couple of days, but he believed there was "90% plus" agreement on the outstanding issues.

Democratic Unionist assembly member Nigel Dodds said the current situation on policing was "a debacle".

Recruiting

About 500 police officers are expected to quit the RUC next month as part of the severance arrangements negotiated after the Patten report on the future of policing in Northern Ireland.

Financial provisions are in place for a further 750 officers to leave over the next 12 months.

A beginning to recruitment now would see the new officers on the streets by next spring.

The SDLP and Sinn Fein say there is still a "gap" between what was proposed in the Patten report and what the British Government has put forward and have so far refused to put forward nominees to the new Police Board.

Their concerns include:

plans for the phasing out of the full-time reserve

future of the RUC Special Branch

name of the new service

police badge

flags over police stations

independent inquiries into controversial killings.