Premiers discuss NI sanctions rift

Spotlight is on future of Stormont executive

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern have discussed the deepening rift in the Northern Ireland power-sharing executive over the arms issue.

The discussion came after the weekend's political developments, when the Ulster Unionist Party's ruling council agreed to impose sanctions on Sinn Fein.

A Downing Street spokeman said Mr Blair and Mr Ahern had a 30 minute telephone conversation on Monday.

A spokesman said: "It was a full discussion of the present situation and the outstanding issues.

"They both expressed a strong commitment to work together in the weeks to come."

On Saturday, the council backed a motion by party leader David Trimble to exclude Sinn Fein ministers from attending meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council, until the IRA restarts talks with the international decommissioning body

The measure was included in a six-part motion which won 54.3% of the vote against a challenge from hardliners led by Lagan Valley MP, Jeffrey Donaldson.

Mr Donaldson had proposed that the Ulster Unionist Party should quit power-sharing with Sinn Fein, if the IRA had not started to decommission by 30 November.

Although the Ulster Unionist Council decided to reject this move, the sanctions planned by Mr Trimble as Northern Ireland First Minister have angered both Sinn Fein and the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party.

Gerry Adams: Challenging David Trimble's sanctions

The Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Mandelson met the Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams on Monday.

It is understood they discussed the Ulster Unionist attempts to ban their ministers from North-South meetings.

There was no comment from either side following the meeting.

Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon of the SDLP also held a private meeting with Irish foreign minister Brian Cowen to discuss the situation.

Speaking earlier, he said the legal implications of the decision needed to be looked at "as a matter of urgency" as he said it looked as if it was a "breach of the terms of the Good Friday Agreement".

He also said all parties had agreed at the end of a review of the workings of the Good Friday Agreement last year, "that the commission itself would be responsible for the methodology and timing of decommissioning".

The North-South Ministerial Council is one of political structures set up under the Good Friday Agreement which is particularly important to nationalists, as it, and six cross-border bodies, are aimed at promoting co-operation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on areas of common concern.

The council's next meeting is scheduled for this Friday.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has challenged Mr Trimble's plan.

Seamus Mallon: Met Irish minister

And Sinn Fein Stormont ministers Martin McGuinness and Bairbre de Brun have written to the first and deputy first ministers calling for an emergency meeting of the executive to discuss the plan.

Mr McGuinness said it was now up to the British and Irish governments to defend the integrity of the Good Friday Agreement, on which devolution is based.

"I think all of this poses a serious challenge to the British and Irish governments and I think they must now tell us what they intend to do about the fact that David Trimble has now jumped onto the "No" agenda," he said.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson has appealed to the parties to "knuckle down and get cracking on implementing all aspects of the agreement".

Speaking in Omagh on Monday, he said it was "now or never for the agreement - there could be no second chances, no replacement and no going back".

Earlier, Ulster Unionist Minister for Culture, Arts and Sport Michael McGimpsey defended his party leader's move, accused Sinn Fein of "over-reacting".

He said his party had produced a "graduated and proportionate response" to the IRA's refusal to re-engage with the decommissioning body.

"I think the important point to make is this - that this does not threaten the agreement. We are determined to make the agreement work," he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Trimble is attending a conference on devolution and regional government at the International University of Menendez Playo in Valencia in Spain.