News conferences after the decision

Sinn Fein has been excluded from the Northern Ireland multi-party peace talks until March 9.

Mowlam: "The credibility of the process could not withstand such a further challenge" (2'24'')

It was given its marching orders in a face-to-face Belfast meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam and Irish Foreign Minister David Andrews.

Mowlam: Sinn Fein's return is dependent on ceasefire being "fully and continuously observed"

The meeting took place behind closed doors at Stormont, the main talks venue, after Sinn Fein was invited to hear the governments' decision.

The republican leadership bitterly resisted the move during three days of talks inside Dublin Castle earlier this week.

"Credibility problem"

Sinn Fein has planned a series of street protests to demonstrate against the decision and there are fears of confrontation with police over the weekend.

Gerry Adams gives his reaction to the decision to exclude Sinn Fein from all-party talks (3'17")

Mr Adams called the decision "disgraceful" and said he was seeking urgent meetings with Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bernie Ahern "to discuss with them the crisis caused by today's decision".

He added: "There is clearly a credibility problem with the talks process."

"No case to answer"

Sinn Fein was excluded from the talks because of the assessment of the RUC chief constable that the IRA was responsible for two recent murders.

Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness: "We are down but not out"

Mr Adams said: "The British Government indictment is without foundation. Sinn Fein has no case to answer.

"At the stroke of a pen, this decision attempts to silence the voices of 175,000 people who vote for our party nationally."

Andrews: "There is a historic settlement in sight" (2'04'')

He said it was undemocratic and an attack on the rights of his supporters. The decision made no contribution to the search for peace. "It is a step backwards."

The Sinn Fein chief accused the British and Irish Governments of "once again bowing to the threats of David Trimble and the Ulster Unionist party".

Ban is "slap on wrist"

A March 9 return to the talks means Sinn Fein will miss just six days of discussions - three next week and three the week after.

Ulster Secretary Mo Mowlam said Sinn Fein's return to the talks was dependent on events on the ground and a convincing demonstration in word and deed that "complete, unqualified and unequivocal IRA ceasefire is being fully and continously observed".

The decision to bar Sinn Fein for such a short period caused anger in Unionist circles. The Ulster Democratic Party saw it as no more than a slap on the wrist.

The UDP was excluded from the talks for four weeks following the Ulster Freedom Fighters' admission that they carried out three killings in January.

They were given no return date and only recently was it indicated they could rejoin before the end of February; they will return on Monday.

"Double standards"

One of their chief negotiators, David Adams, while welcoming his party's return, was angry.

"The governments have seen fit not only to specify a date for Sinn Fein, which they failed to do for us, but also that that date means that Sinn Fein's time out is far less than ours.

"This is double standards for republicans and loyalists."

Ulster Unionist John Taylor also expressed his dissatisfaction. "The decision underlines the inconsistency and lack of even-handedness in the policies of the Government towards Republican and Loyalist paramilitaries," he said.

"The Ulster Unionist Party believe no distinction should be made between political parties linked to various paramilitary organisations."

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©