The Northern Ireland Secretary, Mo Mowlam, has said she is convinced a shaky truce by Protestant loyalist groups is still holding and she hopes spiralling violence will not derail the peace talks.

Dr Mowlem: 'The shaky truce will hold' (3'26")

Speaking after a day of talks with Northern Ireland's polarised politicians, Dr Mowlam acknowledged that there was fear and insecurity on both sides of the sectarian divide.

But she urged both communities not to be deflected from the search for peace.

"My feeling is that there is a seriousness and realisation after the last week by everybody I have talked to today that they have looked over the edge, and that the alternatives are a return to violence and the dark days people have experienced in Northern Ireland," said Dr Mowlam.

The talks are set to continue on Tuesday when Dr Mowlam will meet representatives from Sinn Fein, and the main Protestant Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).

Trimble's talks with Blair were 'positive'

The UUP leader David Trimble has already had 75 minutes of talks with the Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

The prime minister's chief spokesman described the discussions as constructive and positive.

There was no demand at the meeting for Dr Mowlam's resignation and no question of the UUP threatening to quit multi-party peace talks, which formally begin next Monday.

The meetings are an attempt to save the province's flagging peace process. It has been undermined by a series of sectarian killings since Christmas Eve.

Loyalist paramilitaries withdraw support

Funeral of Eddie Treanor, one of three sectarian killings this week

Peace hopes dimmed further on Sunday when jailed members of two Protestant loyalist groups ended their long-standing support for the multi-party talks, sponsored by London and Dublin.

The Ulster Defence Association, represented by the Ulster Democratic Party, has withdrawn completely its support of the peace talks.

The Ulster Volunteer Force, represented by the Progressive Unionist Party, has expressed concern over the direction of the talks.

Northern Ireland analysts are warning that resistance to the peace process within the loyalist community is growing.

But Dr Mowlam ruled out any early movement on loyalist demands for release of some of their prisoners.

She admitted that concessions were an issue that must be addressed but said "after the events of last week, this is not the moment to address it."

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