NI peace package in pipeline

Prime ministers say the package is non-negotiable

The British and Irish governments have said there will be no further negotiating in attempts to resolve the deadlocked Northern Ireland political process.

After a sixth day of talks, Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish premier Bertie Ahern said they would now be putting a package to all the parties.

A statement issued on behalf of both governments said progress had been made, but there was no need for further discussions.

The two administrations said it would be "a tragedy" not to build on the achievements already made.

The governments said the package would be non-negotiable.

Dispute

Mr Blair said: "We believe the time for negotiating is through, we are confident we can put through a package for parties to accept or not."

Let's wait to see the package, to see if it provides a bridge towards full implementation

Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams

The package would cover all the areas that have been in dispute between the various parties, he said.

"We are not coming to you today and saying all this is done. It is not. But it can be done," he added.

Mr Ahern said he believed a balanced package could be achieved.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said he looked forward to receiving the package.

"I hope they will bring forward a package which is able to deliver on the Good Friday Agreement and we will look at it in a constructive and positive manner," he said.

"The threat to this process doesn't come from the weapons of the IRA which are silenced."

The threat came from the plastic bullets that were still being used and from loyalist weapons, he said.

"Let's wait to see the package, to see if it provides a bridge towards full implementation."

SDLP leader John Hume said there would be considerable disappointment at the failure to find a way at implementing the Agreement.

Current log-jam

"We in the SDLP welcome the announcement by both governments that they will soon present a package to the parties to break the current log-jam," he said.

He said he hoped this would "happen sooner, rather than later", and that the package would be endorsed by all of the parties.

SDLP deputy Seamus Mallon said all parties would have a good idea about the contents of the final package.

Earlier, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble left the negotiations.

However, representatives of all the pro-Agreement parties remained at the discussions.

As he left the talks at Weston Park in Staffordshire, Mr Trimble said there was little prospect of an agreement.

Talks aimed at resolving the stalemate entered their final day on Saturday.

Crisis

The British and Irish prime ministers met most of the pro-Agreement parties in an attempt to resolve the current crisis.

The negotiations were suspended late on Friday night with no indication of substantial progress on the key issues, such as policing and the decommissioning of terrorist weapons.

David Trimble: Crisis sparked by resignation

There was sporadic violence in Belfast overnight with emergency services coming under attack with petrol bombs and several vehicles set on fire.

Tony Blair warned that if no deal was reached on Saturday there would be no further opportunity for talks before the deadline of 12 August, by which he must decide whether to suspend the Northern Ireland Assembly or call fresh elections.

Earlier, Mr Trimble said: "I think that there will be a round-table meeting later this afternoon and a statement will be issued.

"I can't anticipate that statement, but my expectation is that the statement will be one recording the effort that has been made and expressing the hope that further efforts over the next few days and weeks may bear fruit. I hope that it will."

Round-table

Mr Mallon: "I don't know what republicans will do"

Sinn Fein negotiator Martin McGuinness said on Saturday there was "a collective responsibility on all political leaders" to ensure the terms of the Good Friday Agreement were fully implemented.

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

He has refused to continue sitting in government with republicans until the IRA begins to decommission its weapons.