'Breathing space' for NI talks

Talks aimed at breaking the political deadlock in Northern Ireland have been given a "breathing space" following the suspension of the power-sharing executive.

Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid, who said the chance of reaching an agreement was "tantalisingly close", is to meet Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen for talks at Hillsborough Castle near Belfast on Saturday.

Dr Reid said he hoped the suspension - which took effect at midnight on Friday - would be lifted by the end of the weekend.

The move has effectively given Northern Ireland's politicians six weeks to hold more talks.

They are still struggling to find a resolution on the issues of decommissioning, policing, demilitarisation and concerns about the stability of the institutions.

'Painful process'

It is the second time the political institutions have been suspended in 18 months.

Dr Reid said significant progress had been made in the "painful and sometimes painstaking" political process.

We are tantalisingly close to being in a different world in Northern Ireland

Secretary of State John Reid

He said it would be against the interests of the peace process to "plunge Northern Ireland into an election campaign and into the more polarised political atmosphere that that would inevitably entail".

Dr Reid said: "I hope and believe that the necessary review can be completed very quickly and that I can lift the suspension and restore the situation before the end of the weekend."

He added: "We are tantalisingly close to being in a different world in Northern Ireland. We have it in our grasp. I believe the parties should be given more time."

John Reid made the suspension announcement

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said the political process was at a "very important stage".

He said: "All sides have made significant steps and I hope that we can make more progress once the review has been completed.

"When we have come so far I think most people would agree with both governments that we should allow the parties more time to bridge the remaining gaps."

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said he also hoped the suspension would be brief.

"However slow and frustrating the process may seem, I believe that the period ahead offers a further chance to bridge differences and to secure progress," he said.

But Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said it was a "body blow for the Agreement" and claimed suspension was the result of a deal between the British Government and the Ulster Unionists.

"What the British Government have done is to reward David Trimble for his intransigence and his failure to give leadership on the Agreement," he said.

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There are fears the IRA, furious at the suspension of the assembly, will withdraw from negotiations with the head of the decommissioning body, General John de Chastelain, in protest.

Gerry Adams: "Body blow for Agreement"

Deputy leader of the SDLP Seamus Mallon said the move was "highly regrettable".

"Political stability cannot be achieved by stop-go arrangements or against the background of continuing uncertainty," he said.

Ulster Unionist John Taylor said the responsibility for getting the assembly re-instated lay with nationalists.

"We must wait and see what happens on decommissioning, and what happens on policing. Where does the SDLP stand?

"They have been dragging their feet on the policing issue and of course, the IRA still have not commenced their decommissioning."

Deputy leader of the anti-Agreement DUP Peter Robinson said Dr Reid had "wantonly abused the law" by suspending the assembly.

He said the review was "not a serious attempt to resolve issues but rather a cynical device to deny the electorate the opportunity to have its say as parliament had decided they should".