The BBC's Denis Murray: "It was really just a day of marking time"

Speaking exclusively to the BBC, he appealed to unionists involved in Northern Ireland's peace process to compromise with Sinn Fein on the handover of IRA weapons but added that commitments to dispose of arms had to be honoured.

But the pressure to reach a deal was complicated when Sinn Fein acknowledged that two men, arrested last week over an explosives find, had been admitted to the IRA wing of a jail in the Irish Republic.

Mr Clinton urged the Ulster Unionists - led by Northern Ireland's First Minister David Trimble - to take risks to achieve a new future.

"One thing I would say to the unionists is that they can always walk away from this if the commitments aren't kept at a later date," he said.

"They should keep in mind that they can bring this down at any time if the commitments aren't kept.

"So I think that if Mr Trimble is satisfied and they can work it through then I would hope that the unionists will support him and give this thing a chance to work."

The US president laid equal stress on the need for Sinn Fein to get the IRA to make progress on the arms issue.

"We know the legitimate problems that Sinn Fein have with the decommissioning issue, but it's an important part of the Good Friday accord, so there has to be a resolution on it that enables the unionists, Mr Trimble and the others who have fought for peace, to survive," he said.

Mr Clinton underlined the dangers if a breakthrough is not found ahead of the deadline set down for Wednesday. But he agreed the province's fate remained ultimately in the hands of its politicians.

"They can know that we can coax them, we can stand with them, we can support them and we can help in all kinds of ways after this is resolved, but in the end the leaders have to decide."

Drumcree parade banned

President Clinton: "All the parties should comply with the terms of the Good Friday accord"

Mr Clinton's comments came as the Parades Commission banned the Orange Order from marching down the nationalist Garvaghy Road.

The Drumcree parade has been a flashpoint for years and the decision will heighten tension as the talks enter their final days.

The talks to try to save the Good Friday Agreement were adjourned on Monday night until Tuesday.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern had joined the negotiations on Monday morning which were aimed at forcing a breakthrough.

Although Mr Blair's spokesman described the talks as "optimistic" most observers expect the latest Stormont summit to run right up to the Wednesday deadline set down by the prime ministers.

The stalemate is almost entirely due to the conflicting views over disposing of weapons and arms held by the IRA.

Mr Trimble refuses to sit in an executive with the IRA's political wing Sinn Fein until this begins.

Sinn Fein says such demands amount to an attempt to rewrite the Good Friday Agreement, signed by all sides in the peace process and backed by referendums in Northern Ireland and the Republic.

In a survey for BBC Two's Newsnight, 12 out of 16 Ulster Unionist assembly members who responded said that only a major hand over of arms confirmed by General John de Chastelain would do to constitute the start of decommissioning.

Two said a minor handover of arms and only one would accept an under taking to begin the process.

Bill Clinton: "I want them to remember how strongly the people voted for peace"

Speaking during a break from the talks on Monday, SDLP leader John Hume - who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Mr Trimble - called on both parties to act constructively.

"What we want to see parties doing, rather than talking about the agreement, is carrying out all aspects and implementing the agreement," Mr Hume said.

'Edge of the abyss'

Gerry Adams: "No deal means no assembly"

But Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams accused the unionists of "turning the agreement on its head" by focusing solely on the issue of arms when he arrived at Stormont.

He said: "The business this week is about getting all aspects of the agreement implemented. Particularly it is about establishing all of the institutions around an inclusive executive.

"The Ulster Unionists need to get real, as do all the other parties."

In a newspaper article ahead of his visit to Northern Ireland, Mr Blair warned the province's new assembly could collapse unless a solution is found.

He described the deadline as "real" and said the province was standing "on the edge of an abyss".

David Trimble: Sticking to demand for arms disposal

Recent statements by Mr Trimble have underlined his refusal to budge without a clear commitment to decommissioning by the IRA.

"No 'ifs', no 'buts', no excuses. Just a simple, clear statement on behalf of the republican movement that they will decommission.

"If that is not forthcoming I do not believe this agreement can survive much longer."

The head of the international decommissioning commission, General John de Chastelain, is due to present his report to the two prime ministers the day before the deadline.