Talks 'test of political leadership'

Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair are chairing three days of talks

It is a moment of decision in the Northern Ireland political process, Prime Minister Tony Blair has said.

He was speaking as politicians from the province's parties are attending intensive negotiations aimed at restoring devolution.

The talks at Leeds Castle, in Kent, are seen as the most important since the negotiations leading up to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Mr Blair said the negotiations were "a test of leadership, political will and whether we are prepared to listen to the yearning of the people" for peace.

Amid tight security, the parties are holding talks on Thursday with British and Irish Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern, both having set aside three days to chair the meetings.

The agenda at Leeds Castle includes issues such as the continued existence of the IRA, decommissioning, policing and undertakings from unionists to make the institutions work.

The talks must be wrapped up by Saturday lunchtime, as a wedding party is being held at the venue that afternoon.

The political institutions in Northern Ireland were suspended in October 2002 amid allegations of IRA intelligence gathering at the Northern Ireland Office.

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Mr Ahern said he hoped these talks were "not just another part of the process".

"We are clear what we have to do: the issues could not be clearer," he said.

On its way into the talks, the Sinn Fein delegation said it had brought a bugging device it said had been discovered in its Belfast headquarters "to bring back to Tony Blair".

Party president Gerry Adams said Sinn Fein was at the talks to play a "positive role".

He said if there were changes to be made that would bring about a better delivery of the Good Friday Agreement, then Sinn Fein "would not be opposed to that".

He added: "A deal between Sinn Fein and the DUP is inevitable. Will it happen this weekend? We are here to make it happen this weekend."

Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley are attending the talks

DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said there were serious issues to be dealt with and if people were not going to "face up and deal with those issues then there will be no agreement from Leeds Castle".

"If the IRA is still in being, then we will not be moving forward. If they still hold on to their weapons, then we will not be moving forward. If there are not changes to the Belfast Agreement, then we will not be moving forward," he said.

"The Belfast Agreement cannot work. The Belfast Agreement is built upon the premise that it needs cross-community - but the unionist community have shown that they don't support it."

Leading his delegation into the castle, the Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble, said the priority in the talks was to focus on what caused the suspension and collapse of the assembly two years ago.

He said that was "the continuing paramilitary activity particularly by the IRA".

The SDLP leader, Mark Durkan, said it was "make-your-mind-up time for parties and paramilitary groups".

He added: "We are here to defend what the people voted for and give people positive politics and good government."

Security at the castle is high

This week's discussions are aimed at resolving issues surrounding the deadlock over the IRA's continued existence and power-sharing at Stormont.

The DUP and Sinn Fein have maintained high-level contacts with both governments over the summer.

The DUP wants changes to the Good Friday Agreement, while republicans want movement on issues such as policing and equality.

Mr Blair's official spokesman said on Thursday that the issue of on-the-run suspects was not on the talks agenda.

He said the governments stood by their commitment to address the issue and other matters such as demilitarisation if republicans delivered on ending paramilitary activity and completing decommissioning.

Alliance Party leader David Ford said all the parties gathered at Leeds Castle had "an enormous responsibility to everyone back home to restore our government".

"Alliance has stressed the need for a collective, inclusive approach to the talks, and we have clearly set out our stall in terms of what we believe is best for all the people of Northern Ireland."