David Trimble says violence must not influence talks (22")

The Ulster Unionists are warning the government not to ignore IRA violence in a bid to keep the peace process on track.

The Prime Minister earlier claimed that agreement on the basic framework of a peace deal for Northern Ireland was "agonisingly close".

But after meeting Mr Blair on Thursday, the Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said there were still "serious issues" to be resolved.

"We are dangerously close to a situation where we have people who are at the talks while their friends and comrades are engaged in violence for the purpose of influencing the talks."

Police investigate the killing of Kevin Conway

Mr Trimble said a disclosure in Parliament showed the RUC concluded that "local IRA elements" were involved in last month's killing of Catholic Kevin Conway in Portadown.

Sinn Fein denied republicans were involved.

Mr Trimble also said that "reliable information", due to be made public, would implicate the IRA in a mortar attack on a police station earlier this week.

But he stopped short of threatening to withdraw the Ulster Unionists if Sinn Fein was allowed to resume its place at the negotiating table.

Blair upbeat

Earlier, after a meeting on Friday morning with Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams at Downing Street, Mr Blair was optimistic of a negotiated settlement from the talks by the May deadline.

Tony Blair: Agreement agonisingly close

"We are agonisingly close to agreeing the framework or outline of a settlement."

Mr Adams said his party should rejoin the talks "at the earliest possible opportunity".

Gerry Adams discusses his meeting with Tony Blair (2' 49")

He said republicans remained committed to securing a lasting settlement for Northern Ireland.

"We certainly want to see an agreement reached as quickly as possible," he said.

Sinn Fein was temporarily excluded from talks after the RUC linked the IRA to two murders in the province.

But these did not include the killing of Mr Conway, whose body was discovered on February 18 in a derelict farmhouse.

In a written parliamentary answer, the government revealed that the RUC believed local IRA elements were involved in the murder.

But police had reached no firm view that the killing had been authorised by the IRA leadership.

Gerry Adams arrives in Downing Street

Sinn Fein chairman Mitchel McLaughlin said republicans were not involved.

"At the time of Mr Conway's killing we said that republicans were not involved. Today's reply confirms that view. There is no evidence to suggest otherwise."

Mr McLaughlin challenged Mr Trimble over what he called his "selective" approach to recent incidents of violence and he questioned the "silence" of the RUC over loyalist involvement in a series of attacks.

"What has Mr Trimble said or done to establish the truth about these incidents? His attitude to violence from loyalist quarters matches the inaction and silence of the RUC in dealing with these attacks," said Mr McLaughlin.
 

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