Breakthrough sought in talks process

Last chance for both prime ministers to talk with parties

Talks aimed at breaking the political impasse in Northern Ireland are the last chance for the two governments to engage with the parties before the end of the summer, according to Downing Street.

A spokesman said the discussions at Weston Park in Staffordshire this week had produced "steady and serious engagement" by all the parties.

The prime minister's office said Mr Blair believed progress could be made when the discussions with the pro-Agreement parties resume on Friday.

The political process has been stalled over the issues of IRA arms decommissioning, policing and British Army demilitarisation.

The current crisis was brought about by the resignation of David Trimble as the Northern Ireland first minister on 1 July.

He has refused to continue to sit in government with republicans until the IRA begin to decommission their weapons.

David Ervine: "Build confidence in the process"

On Wednesday, Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern said three days of intense talks had given them fresh hope the issues can be resolved.

They were speaking after negotiations with the main pro-Agreement parties were suspended on Wednesday evening without a major breakthrough.

Meanwhile, the Ulster Democratic Party leader, Gary McMichael said his party will not be returning to the talks.

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He said he felt the UDP had no role to play at this stage.

The UDP announcement came as the Progressive Unionist Party leader David Ervine confirmed his party would not be attending the talks either.

Mr Ervine said he wished the talks well, but his party's "stay away stand" was based on a wish for anything that could build confidence in progress in the process.

'Clarity needed'

The PUP left the talks earlier in the week over what it said were republican demands and the refusal of the IRA to explain what it meant by its term "the causes of conflict".

On Wednesday evening, Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern said they were optimistic about the parties reaching agreement.

Mr Blair said he hoped all sides would use the break in talks to reflect on their positions adding it was a time for leadership.

He said there were substantial areas of disagreement and difference.

"There is no alternative to the Good Friday Agreement that it is the best basis for peace and a stable future for the people of Northern Ireland," he said.

Mr Ahern said the arguments were well known but the solutions were not so easy.

"We have worked hard to try to find those and hopefully we can," he said.

Seamus Mallon: More "clarity" needed on arms

SDLP deputy leader Seamus Mallon said some progress had been made at the talks, but there was disappointment and anger that an agreement had not been reached.

Mr Mallon said there had been "advances" on the issues of policing and security normalisation, but not enough to satisfy his party.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said no progress had been made, but insisted that there was still hope for the peace process.

The Ulster Unionist Party delegation left the talks to return to Northern Ireland for the traditional climax to the Protestant marching season on Thursday.

Mr Trimble, who left the talks for other commitments less than 90 minutes after they had begun, said the current nature of the negotiations had left his party with a feeling of disappointment.

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