Hopes fade for NI devolution deal

Gerry Adams said his party was ready to share power with the DUP

The prospect of agreement this week on a return to power-sharing in Northern Ireland looks less likely now, the BBC has learned.

It is understood Ian Paisley's DUP is sticking to its demands for photographic evidence of IRA decommissioning.

Sinn Fein's leadership said it had been to see the IRA but said there could be "no humiliation" in the process.

Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern are due in Northern Ireland on Wednesday.

However, instead of announcing a deal to restore Stormont, they will be publishing details of their proposals for reviving power-sharing.

On Tuesday, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said his party was ready to go into government with the DUP.

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Mr Adams said the prospect of sharing power with the DUP was "not particularly attractive" but he recognised the party's mandate.

He said he and Martin McGuinness had been to see the IRA and if the IRA did take the initiative, it would be "hugely painful" for Irish republicans and nationalists.

"I am not prepared to go into the detail of these discussions. That organisation will take its own counsel and make its position clear in its own time," said Mr Adams.

"I do expect that in the context of a comprehensive agreement, that it will deal with issues that are its responsibility."

He added: "I am not going to speculate on the detail of the IRA position. However, I can tell you that I do not believe that the IRA will allow itself to be humiliated."

Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair plan to publish joint proposals

The DUP has so far, publicly, refused to say if it will accept the governments' proposals.

Party leader Ian Paisley has said the main stumbling block to any deal remains the arms issue.

After Mr Adams' comments, the DUP issued a statement saying the comprehensive agreement was "not an a la carte menu".

"It is not realistic for Sinn Fein to expect to choose a starter and a pudding and leave out the main course," the DUP said.

"They must clarify their position on whether they accept the comprehensive agreement in all its parts or not."

DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said republicans had "lost their nerve" and this was "regrettable".

BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said: "Even before Gerry Adams began to read his statement this evening, the rumours were going around political circles that the IRA wasn't prepared to provide the photographic proof of disarmament which the DUP has demanded.

"In emphasising that republicans would not pander to unrealisable demands or submit to humiliation, Gerry Adams seems - once you decipher the code - to confirm that message.

"Government sources say Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern still intend to travel to Belfast tomorrow.

"But now it seems almost certain that they will merely be publishing their proposals, not unveiling a deal which would lead to the restoration of devolution."

Northern Ireland's political institutions have been suspended since October 2002 amid claims of IRA intelligence-gathering at the Northern Ireland Office.

The parties had to make their final representations about the British-Irish proposals to the governments by 1800 GMT on Tuesday.

Alliance Deputy Leader Eileen Bell said political leaders had to think of people they represented, and "forget about their own narrow egos".

The issue of weapons continues to be a stumbling block

"It is understandable that both sides distrust each other, but can they not see that it is incumbent on both of them to acknowledge the other's distrust and to make some effort to assuage it?", she said.

Earlier, Irish Premier Bertie Ahern said an IRA representative had met the head of the arms body.

Mr Ahern told the Irish Parliament: "Yes,there has been a meeting between an IRA representative and John de Chastelain. These meetings, as I understand it, are ongoing."

He added: "There is one major difficulty and I don't see the resolution in that quite frankly."

Meanwhile, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said his delegation had a "fairly detailed" meeting with Tony Blair at Downing Street.

'Clear picture'

He said the UUP was "looking forward to what might be some significant developments tomorrow".

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said he was looking forward to positive developments this week.

Speaking after leading a party delegation to meet the Independent Monitoring Commission, which checks on paramilitary violence, on Tuesday, Mr Durkan said the deal was not new - but the players were.

He said he would welcome republicans embracing democratic principles - and the DUP signing up to power-sharing.

There have been intensive negotiations between the two governments and the political parties over the past few weeks.

The main issues which have been highlighted in the latest round of intense talks include decommissioning, demilitarisation, policing and future devolved institutions.

The negotiations have been conducted through a series of British and Irish Government intermediaries because the DUP refused to hold face-to-face talks with Sinn Fein.