The Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, has held a historic first meeting with the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, at No 10 Downing Street.

Emerging after more than an hour of talks, Mr Adams described the encounter as a historic moment which gave both sides an opportunity to exchange views.

Michael Collins

It is the first time a Republican leader has entered the seat of British Government since Michael Collins. He met Lloyd George in 1921 and signed the treaty which partitioned Ireland.

Accompanied by his chief negotiator, Martin McGuinness, and other Sinn Fein delegates, including a convicted IRA gun-runner, he said: "We had a good meeting because I think we engaged."

Mr Adams said: "We certainly had the opportunity to put our view that all the hurt and grief and division which has come from British involvement in our affairs has to end."

However, he said that the difficulties that lie ahead should not be underestimated.

"That will obviously mean facing up to the future with some resilience and with the determination to make a new history," he said.

"I think it's clear that all of us in this process have to take risks for peace."

Tony Blair defended the decision to meet Sinn Fein

The Prime Minister said he looked Mr Adams in the eye and told him that a return to violence would waste the best chance for peace in a generation.

"I made it very, very clear that if they were to go back to violence that's it - they'd be out of the talks," said Mr Blair.

He also said he had insisted Sinn Fein uphold democracy and that the only way forward was "on the basis of consent, the consent of the people".

As the Sinn Fein team were driven out of Downing Street, they faced a protest from people opposed to the meeting.

Demonstrators outside Downing Street

Earlier, supporters and opponents - waving the Union flag or the Irish flag - had gathered in Whitehall to shout or jeer as Mr Adams and his colleagues arrived.

The meeting has drawn strong criticism from leaders of Northern Ireland's majority Protestant community.

Sinn Fein is the political wing of the largest nationalist paramilitary organisation, the IRA. Until recently, Mr Adams and its other leaders were banned from talking on UK television and radio.

The meeting was given an extra edge following the escape from the Maze Prison of a convicted killer and member of the IRA, Liam Averell, on Wednesday night.

Mr Adams wished the convicted IRA killer who escaped "good luck", a comment he later described as "jocular".

Unionists say the escape was further reason why the meeting should not have taken place.

"As far as anybody is concerned who has been involved in violence, they have to begin by showing remorse by dismantling their organisation and by disarming the illegal weapons they have," said Ken Maginnis MP of the Ulster Unionist Party.

The mother of a murdered soldier gives Mr Adams a Christmas card

But the mother of the last soldier killed in Northern Ireland believes everyone should talk. Her son, Steven Restorick, was murdered by an IRA sniper.

At Downing Street, she gave Gerry Adams a Christmas card and wished the politicians well.

"Enough lives have been lost and people have to sit down and try and find some compromise they can agree with," said Rita Restorick.  
 
Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams talks to the BBC's Denis Murray
The Prime Minister Tony Blair talks about his historic meeting with Gerry Adams

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