Northern Ireland talks extended

Talks have resumed for a third day at Weston Park

Political talks to try to break the deadlock over the Northern Ireland peace process have resumed for a third, unscheduled, day.

The intensive discussions involving the main pro-Agreement parties - the Ulster Unionist Party, SDLP and Sinn Fein - continued deep into the night at Weston Park in Staffordshire, but the major difficulties remained unresolved.

As the discussions drew to a close on Tuesday, former First Minister David Trimble and Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said it had been a "tough day" and no breakthrough had been reached.

The sticking points are thought to be unionist demands for the decommissioning of IRA weapons and republican calls for reforms to policing in the province and an end to the British military presence.

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Implementation

Speaking before going in to Wednesday's round of talks, Mr Adams said there was a way of resolving this arms issue.

He added: "It's not about renegotiating the Good Friday Agreement, it's about implementing the Good Friday Agreement - that is what is required."

He said Sinn Fein had put all its cards on the table.

"If anybody read what I said yesterday - that is the entire Sinn Fein deck of cards."

Mr Trimble said some of his delegation were due to depart on Wednesday morning because of other commitments.

However, Mr Trimble himself left the talks less than 90 minutes after they had begun.

Earlier, he said: "We have come here to see if it is possible in the course of this morning to make a little progress."

But he said that reflecting on Tuesday's talks, his party's main feeling was one of disappointment.

Damage

There had been a poor response from Sinn Fein and it had not been able to fulfill its promises, he said.

"They are in denial of the situation and the damage they could do to the process."

He added: "I expect that we will be back on Friday, but it looks like it may only be Friday."

SDLP deputy leader Seamus Mallon said there was still a lot of work to do.

"I hope it takes place in a very intensive way today, and then we will see where each party's position is really at, and we will be able to make an assessment.

"We are now getting to the end of negotiations and I would hope people will show the type of line that they intend to take.

Adjourned

"If people wish to make a success of this there will have to be additional decisions taken in relation to decommisioning, policing and the other issues."

The talks may be adjourned until Friday.

Some of the Ulster Unionist delegation wish to return to Northern Ireland to take part in the annual 12 July Orange Order parades.

A Downing Street spokesman said Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has been attending the talks with his Republic of Ireland counterpart Bertie Ahern, was likely to remain at the discussions.

Precondition

Taking a break from the proceedings to deliver a speech in London on Tuesday night, Mr Adams said the deadlock over IRA disarmament would only be resolved if it was not treated as a precondition.

Gerry Adams: Not opposed to decommissioning

However, Mr Trimble said the Sinn Fein president's speech "consistently misrepresents the agreement and the position of both the Ulster Unionist Party and the government".

Earlier the process suffered a setback after two loyalist groups withdrew support over what they called "republican concessions" and lack of IRA decommissioning.

Paramilitary group the Ulster Freedom Fighters withdrew its backing for the Good Friday Agreement and the Progressive Unionist Party stood down from the Weston Park talks.

The round table discussions are aimed at breaking the impasse over the Agreement which centres on former First Minister David Trimble's refusal to sit in government with republicans without arms decommissioning from the IRA.