BBC Correspondent Tom Coulter explains from Stormont why unionists feel angry

Talks on the future of Northern Ireland resumed in Belfast with the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) back at the table, Sinn Fein out in the cold and crucial questions facing its leader Gerry Adams and the UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

However, within two hours, the focus was diverted to Portadown in County Armagh after a car bomb exploded in a street in the town's centre.

Some politicians at the talks left to travel to the town to view the bomb scene and to talk to local people.

The bomb also brought renewed calls from unionists for Sinn Fein to be permanently excluded from the talks.

Gerry Adams: time for talking to stop?

Earlier, supporters of Sinn Fein held a protest outside Stormont, the talks' venue, to demand the republican party's re-entry. It was temporarily suspended on Friday until March 9 after a police report linked the IRA to two killings in Belfast earlier this month.

The loyalist UDP, which was suspended for a month when a group it represents admitted it had carried out a series of sectarian murders, re-entered the talks accusing the British government of double standards in its handling of Sinn Fein.

They are angry because Sinn Fein was excluded for a shorter period.

UDP leader Gary McMichael says the government is showing favour towards those who are "deceitful"

UDP leader Gary McMichael said he had arranged a meeting with the Prime Minister to urge him not to talk to Gerry Adams while his party was suspended.

"The government appears to be running scared of Sinn Fein," said Mr McMichael, who is meeting the UK's Northern Ireland Secretary, Mo Mowlam, at the talks.

He also warned the talks could not be allowed to tread water until Sinn Fein came back. "We are nearing the end of the talks now and it is important that determinations are going to be taken.

"We are not prepared to sit back and twiddle our thumbs while everyone waits for Sinn Fein to come back into the talks - it is completely unacceptable. We are not going to allow these talks to be driven by republicans."

Gary McMichael: "Government is running scared"

The government has confirmed it is "very carefully" considering a request from Sinn Fein to meet the Prime Minister.

Speaking after the Portadown bomb on Monday, a spokesman for the Prime Minister insisted no decision had yet been taken.

However, Mr Blair now faces the dilemma of annoying unionist and loyalist parties by talking to a party which has been suspended from official talks or refusing to do so and risk alienating Sinn Fein and Mr Adams even further.

Mr Adams also faces the question of whether Sinn Fein will return to the talks. He said the decision was still open, adding: "This is certainly not an attempt at political shadow boxing."

Bertie Ahern: meeting with Blair could be crucial

Republic of Ireland premier, Bertie Ahern, has agreed to meet Mr Adams. Mr Ahern will meet Mr Blair in London on Thursday to discuss the latest crisis in the peace process and may also talk to Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble.

Meanwhile, the UK Government hinted it was satisfied the IRA was not responsible for the huge bomb which ripped through the village of Moira in County Down on Friday.

All the indications were that a renegade republican group was behind the blast, according to Northern Ireland Political Development Minister Paul Murphy.

The IRA has denied responsibility and Mr Murphy said he had been advised that the breakaway republican Continuity Army Council was probably responsible.

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