Flag row looms over NI deal

Powersharing return could be stalled by flags issue

Ulster Unionist deputy leader John Taylor has said the chances of the Ulster Unionist Party re-joining the power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland have fallen significantly over the last few days.

Mr Taylor said his reservations about the return of devolution to Stormont were increasing and had not been properly addressed.

The Strangford MP objected to what he said were efforts by Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson to bounce the Ulster Unionist parliamentary party into making a decision on the issue before the party's council had a chance to meet.

And he indicated that Ulster Unionists might look for a second pre-condition on the flying of the Union flag on government buildings, as well as on the retention of the RUC name.

John Taylor: IRA statement is not decommissioning

"I would say there's now only a 60% chance of the present proposals being accepted by the Ulster Unionist Council," he said.

Earlier this week, Mr Taylor had put at 90% the chances of the party re-entering a power-sharing government including Sinn Fein following the IRA's weekend statement on arms.

It is expected that the 800-strong Ulster Unionist Council will meet on 20 May to decide on the issue.

The UUP assembly party are due to meet in Belfast to discuss their next steps on Friday.

Mr Taylor indicated he believed the UUC was unlikely to approve a deal which did not include a concession on the retention of the RUC's name, following the party's decision to pass a motion linking the issue to political progress in February.

And in a letter published in The Times newspaper, Mr Taylor also said he needed a guarantee that the Union flag would continue to fly over government buildings in Northern Ireland.

"Only when this is clarified can I support the present process - even after the recent IRA statement which does not state that all arms will be put beyond use," he said.

'Unionist mistake on flags'

But Sinn Fein's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness said the Ulster Unionists were making a mistake by trying to get more concessions from the government Blair and should agree to a return to a power-sharing government without delay.

Martin McGuinness: Don't make flags an issue

"The people in the nationalist community were dismayed when at the Waterfront Hall the David Burnside motion was passed and now we have a very clear indication over the last 24 hours that they wish to make an issue of flags and emblems.

"That would be a serious mistake in my view and I think it would be a serious blunder on the part of the British government if they were to do anything which would dilute the strength of the Good Friday Agreement," he said.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster the leader of the Alliance Party Sean Neeson said John Taylor was out of step and the Ulster Unionists should go back into the executive.

"We all know John Taylor has always been a bit of a maverick. Instead of going forward this time, he is going into reverse, but I think the important thing is the Ulster Unionists recognise the major opportunity that is there," he said.

'Accommodation over policing'

The flag issue arose during the short life of the suspended power-sharing executive after Sinn Fein Health Minister Bairbre de Brun ordered the Union flag not to be flown from government buildings under her remit.

In January, Down District Council voted to replace the Union flag with a corporate emblem.

Bill Clinton: Policing issue could be stumbling block

Meanwhile junior Irish Foreign Minister Liz O'Donnell has said Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern understands David Trimble's problem over the Northern Ireland Policing Bill.

Speaking in the Dail she said: "There are various proposals being put forward and considered in relation to aspects of the bill.

"Every effort is being made to reach some sort of accommodation which will meet the concerns of the parties."

Speaking to reporters in Washington on Thursday US President Bill Clinton said that although the IRA move was a "terrific step forward" there could be no celebration about the peace process until the issue of change to the RUC had been resolved.