Talks on political progress end

The solution to Northern Ireland's political problems will not be found in London or Dublin, the secretary of state has said.

Emerging from six-hour of talks between the pro-Agreement parties on Wednesday, John Reid said there should be more such meetings.

The progress of the Northern Ireland political process was discussed at the meeting at Hillsborough Castle, which was also attended by the British and Irish Governments.

What was happening today was an eagerness and willingness on the part of everyone to meet more regularly instead of just in a crisis

John Reid
Secretary of state

Dr Reid and the Irish Foreign Minister, Brian Cowen, were discussing the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement with the parties.

Dr Reid said: "The solution to the problems in Northern Ireland will be found in Northern Ireland.

"They will not be found ultimately by (Irish Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern, Tony Blair, John Reid or Brian Cowen, with respect to Brian.

"They will be found here, and therefore the more regularly in my view the pro-Agreement parties meet together and honestly and maturely discuss openly and honestly their own problems, the better chance we have of success.

"That's why what was happening today was an eagerness and willingness on the part of everyone to meet more regularly instead of just in a crisis."

Sectarian violence

This is the second meeting of the implementation group, set up after last year's Weston Park talks.

The meeting comes against a background of recent street violence, allegations of IRA involvement in a break-in at the police's Belfast headquarters and allegations about security force collusion with paramilitaries.

David Trimble not attending meeting

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster ahead of the meeting, the deputy first minister, Mark Durkan, said it was time for more honesty in the process.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams on his way into the meeting said sectarian violence on the streets of Belfast must be addressed by the British and Irish governments and parties who support the Good Friday Agreement.

Sinn Fein joined the Ulster Unionists, SDLP, Alliance Party, the loyalist Progressive Unionist Party, and the Women's Coalition at the meeting.

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, who has warned that ongoing IRA activity was endangering the Agreement, did not attend.

Instead, Stormont environment minister Dermot Nesbitt and Assembly member Ivan Davis were representing the UUP.

The meeting comes ahead of talks next week with the parties, involving Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, which will also be held at Hillsborough.

Tony Blair: To meet Taoiseach Bertie Ahern next week

The issue of the "Disappeared", those allegedly killed by the IRA and buried in shallow graves during the Troubles, along with allegations of IRA involvement in training Colombian rebels, are also likely to be raised at Wednesday's meeting.

After the first meeting, at the end of March, the Alliance leader, David Ford, said that the discussions had generated "more heat than light".

Meanwhile, police came under renewed attack from nationalists in north Belfast early on Wednesday.

Petrol bombs, stones and paint were hurled at police in the Ardoyne area.

The trouble started when officers moved in on a crowd of 50 in Brompton Park and Estoril Park, who were beginning to cut down poles recently erected for the installation of CCTV cameras.

The cameras have not yet been put up. The police recently announced plans for the installation of nearly two dozen CCTV cameras at flashpoints in a bid to contain the continuing sectarian violence.