Adams denies peace 'within grasp'

Gerry Adams: Expects pressure on republicans

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has rejected claims by Northern Ireland minister John Reid that a peace deal is "tantalisingly close".

Mr Adams also appeared to rule out decommissioning by the Provisional IRA within the next six weeks.

His comments followed the restoration of devolved government to Northern Ireland, which came after a 24-hour suspension in an attempt to give parties more time to agree a peace package.

"Behind the soft words really what is being opened up is a six- or seven-week period in which the British Government and unionists are going to try to put pressure on republicans to move to resolve issues on British Government or unionist terms," he said.

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Mr Adams was speaking at a rally to mark the 20th anniversary of hunger strikes by republican prisoners.

He said: "I hear a British Government that says a deal is almost within reach," he said.

"Does this mean they're going to pull troops from south Armagh, from south Tyrone, west and north Belfast?

"I hear also the patronising tone that the institutions have been stood down for only one day and now it's OK again. Well, it's not OK again."

Mr Adams' words followed a warning from party colleague Martin McGuinness that the IRA's recent offer to put its weapons beyond use may have been jeopardised by the suspension, and by unionist rejection of the offer.

The plan - to put its weapons permanently and verifiably beyond use - had been accepted by General John de Chastelain's international decommissioning body.

But Mr McGuinness said suspension had seriously damaged his community's confidence in the institutions and could now have implications for the IRA's plan.

John Reid hoped the technicality will buy time for negotiations

Dr Reid said he would be "deeply disappointed if the IRA walked away" from its agreement.

But he said there had to be movement on the issue of decommissioning illegal weapons.

"It is possible for us to tackle the longest running problem in British and Irish history," he said.

Due to the mechanics of the Good Friday Agreement, the 24-hour suspension has given politicians an extra six weeks to negotiate acceptance of an Anglo-Irish deal to beat the latest deadlock.

Dr Reid said he had taken the decision to suspend the assembly reluctantly, after the main parties rejected the peace package on offer.

"This was basically to give more time, to give peace a chance and to buy more time," he said.

The deal on offer covers all of the four outstanding issues threatening the political process - policing, normalisation, the stability of the institutions and disarmament.

Devolved government was suspended for one day

Dr Reid said: "Over the next six weeks I fully intend to tackle the questions which some people say are the stumbling blocks."

The Irish Foreign Minister, Brian Cowen, called on politicians to use the extra negotiating time productively, and to work together.

He asked them to build on the "substantive" progress which he says has already been made.

They had a "collective responsibility" towards the Agreement, as voters has showed they wanted it, he said.

The latest crisis was brought to a head by the resignation of Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble as Northern Ireland first minister, because the IRA had not begun to disarm.