Paisley praises SF policing move

Policing has been a dividing issue between the DUP and Sinn Fein

Sinn Fein's decision to press ahead with a special party conference on policing is "a step forward", DUP leader Ian Paisley has said.

However, he stressed the need for full delivery on the ground.

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said his party was communicating with the DUP through the government and an independent channel.

However, he said Sinn Fein did not get the response it had expected from the DUP.

Mr Paisley said the latest Sinn Fein motion on policing was open to different, if not contradictory, interpretations.

He said his party would not move until there was full delivery and would "not be found wanting if there is".

The DUP want republicans to support the police immediately after their special party conference, but Sinn Fein has said its executive will judge when the context is right.

'Responding positively'

On Monday, Mr Adams talked in more detail about what he claims were the understandings between republicans and the DUP in the period before the new year.

Mr Adams said the parties communicated both through the government and through an independent channel, and republicans made three changes to their proposed motion on policing in response to DUP requests.

He said the DUP did not keep its promises about responding positively to Sinn Fein's initiative, but he was still prepared to work with them should they commit to power sharing.

Mr Blair insists DUP must pledge to share power with republicans

The Sinn Fein leadership is to hold debates across Northern Ireland to sell to grass-roots republicans the idea of backing policing.

The party's executive decided on Saturday to hold a special conference on the issue in Dublin on 28 January. More than 2,000 republicans will vote.

Some republicans view accepting policing as a step too far but prime ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern see it as crucial for restoring devolution.

Mr Blair also insists the DUP must pledge to share power with republicans.

Assembly elections are planned for 7 March, and 28 March is the two governments' target date for the restoration of devolution.

Mark Durkan, leader of the nationalist SDLP, said Sinn Fein's ard fheis must agree to "accept policing, with no ifs or buts".

Ulster Unionist Party leader Sir Reg Empey called for DUP leaders to meet the leadership of Sinn Fein "openly and with the public's knowledge, rather than more of these discussions going on behind people's backs".