DUP demand over peace package

A DUP delegation wants to see the proposals

The Democratic Unionist Party is due to meet the Northern Ireland secretary of state on Tuesday to discuss the current developments in the stalled political process.

The delegation is due to hold talks with Dr John Reid at Stormont to demand the party gets access to the package, aimed at breaking the impasse, being put forward by the British and Irish Governments.

The political process has been deadlocked over the issues of arms, policing, demilitarisation and the stability of the political institutions.

The current crisis was sparked by the resignation of Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble as Northern Ireland first minister on 1 July because the IRA had not begun to disarm.

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Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern are finalising the proposals for a settlement of the issues between the pro-Agreement parties.

On Tuesday, East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell of the anti-Agreement DUP said the people of the province had a democratic right to know what was contained in the proposals.

Mr Campbell said the party would be warning Dr Reid against "a closing out of the democratic process".

Gregory Campbell: "People have a right to know"

"The people of Northern Ireland have a right to see what is in this package," he said.

"Whether people are for the Agreement or against the Agreement they have a right to know what their future is going to be.

On Monday, the British and Irish prime ministers spoke by telephone in an effort to finalise their joint proposals.

Document

The "non-negotiable" document is to be presented to the parties this week following five days of intensive talks brokered by the two leaders at Weston Park in Staffordshire early in July.

Dr Reid said the two governments remained confident of a political breakthrough.

David Trimble: Alternatives to Agreement may have to be considered

He was speaking following comments made by former first minister David Trimble that the Good Friday Agreement may prove unworkable.

In an interview for BBC News 24's Hardtalk programme on Monday, Mr Trimble said a lack of progress on the issue of illegally held paramilitary arms could result in the Agreement having to be reviewed in the autumn.

However, Mr Trimble said he might have to accept that the 1998 peace accord - the template for Northern Ireland devolution - which he signed up to with most of Northern Ireland's other political parties, could not be implemented.

Later on Monday, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said the British Government risked wrecking the Northern Ireland peace process if it kept "pandering to unionist demands".

The chairman of the SDLP, Alex Attwood, refused to comment on speculation that the proposals included a blanket amnesty for paramilitaries.

Following Mr Trimble's resignation, there were six weeks available to the parties to find a resolution by 12 August.

At the end of that period, if there has been no deal, the British Government will have to either suspend the assembly - even if only for a short period to give more room for manoeuvre - or call an assembly election.