Adams anger over assembly U-turn

Gerry Adams criticised Peter Hain

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has criticised Secretary of State Peter Hain about his U-turn over assembly business.

Mr Adams also hit out at what he said were "rubbish reports" about Martin McGuinness being a British spy.

He said that there was a clear agenda at work.

"I think the sub-text of all of this is that there is a possibility elements in there want to see Martin McGuinness dead," he said.

"That's what I take out of this - it is a very serious situation.

"I think it is emanating from the old guard within the old RUC perhaps some still active within the PSNI, all the dirty tricks, within British military intelligence."

When asked if Mr Hain had to go Mr Adams suggested that there was no point as he would simply be replaced by "some other latcheco" - a Belfast term for an undesirable person.

He challenged the government to drive the process forward and stick to deadlines over power sharing.

The Stormont committee is to help prepare a return to devolution

Mr Hain made a U-turn on his decision not to hold any debates at the assembly next week.

His announcement on Thursday had been met with criticism from the DUP, the UUP, the SDLP and the Alliance.

But an NIO spokesman later confirmed Mr Hain would tell the speaker assembly business could take place next Tuesday.

The DUP had threatened to boycott the new Preparation for Government Committee had Mr Hain not changed his mind about assembly business.

Sinn Fein, SDLP, UUP and Alliance have said they will join the new Preparation for Government Committee.

Its first order of business will be to decide who will chair the committee.

On 15 May, Northern Ireland's politicians took their seats in the Stormont assembly for the first time since October 2002.

While there is no immediate prospect of a power-sharing executive being formed, the government hopes recalling the politicians will help to pave the way towards a deal in the autumn, by its deadline of 24 November.

Devolved government was suspended over allegations of a republican spy ring. The court case that followed collapsed.

Direct rule from London was restored in October 2002 and has been in place since.