Sept.  17, 2002
LOYALIST SHOOTINGS LINKED TO DRUGS FALLOUT

The shooting of a top loyalist paramilitary in Belfast is linked to a fall-out over drugs, police claimed today.

Jim Gray, a senior member of the Ulster Defense Association (UDA), is recovering in hospital after being hit in the face.

Police said loyalists were embroiled in an internal war over their drugs and business interests.  Loyalist sources have claimed that the Loyalist Volunteer Force was behind the attempted murder.

Earlier today, Belfast Assistant chief constable Alan McQuillan said the shooting of Jim Gray was "related" to the murder last FRiday of LVF man Stephen Warnock.

He said: "We have a very small group of people here in terms of the loyalist paramilitary groups on both sides who seem to be in some sort of dispute within their ranks."

McQuillan said he believed the murder was the result of "inter-loyalist violence" but it was too early to speculate on the motive.

 Analyzing the situation within the loyalist community, McQuillan said: "In the last three weeks we have seen a series of tensions breaking out into shooting in relation to factions within loyalist groups.  Quite what the motive of that is, is not clear, but we have to recognize that these are mafia organizations and the most probable cause is some sort of sordid drugs war or business interests war between those groups."

Another leading loyalist, David Mahood, escaped injury when a gunman fired a shot at his car on the Oldpark Road in north Belfast on Thursday.

Mahood, who is associated with the UDA through the Ulster Political Research Group blamed republicans for the shooting.

But Sinn Féin said other loyalists were behind it and Mr. McQuillan said he had "no evidence" republicans were involved.

Asst. Chief Constable Alan McQuillan claimed elements within the UDA were also continuing to stoke up sectarian tensions in north Belfast while at the same time infighting was taking place among criminal godfathers.

Gray was ambushed late last night near the home of where loyalist drugs dealer Warnock was shot dead.

His funeral was taking place later today amid heightening fears that the shooting of Gray could trigger a new outbreak of blood letting by rival loyalist paramilitaries. It is thought that Mr. Grey is the commander of the UDA in East Belfast.

Sept. 17, 2002
UNIONISTS MUST PUT FORWARD ARGUMENT FOR UNION - ADAMS

Unionists must put forward the alternative argument against a united Ireland, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams claimed today. 

  As his party`s representatives in the Northern Ireland Assembly and Dail Eireann in the Irish Republic held their first joint meeting at Stormont,  Adams said republicans were confident that "thinking unionists will come round to their vision" of a united Ireland.  "Otherwise, we wouldn`t be here at Stormont," the West Belfast MP said.

"But you know, maybe they have an alternative?  Let`s hear the argument for the Union. Let`s hear the argument for the British connection being maintained.  All we are asking is the right to put the argument for all of the people - nationalists, unionists, loyalists, republicans - coming together and shaping out whatever sort of island we want for ourselves free of the British jurisdiction."

"So, it`s a battle of ideas and I think that increasingly, despite what is happening on the streets and despite all the other difficulties, people are starting to look forward and I would like to think that unionists who are genuine about their politics will be prepared to come forward and argue the future out with us."

Adams was commenting hours after another leading Sinn Féin figure urged unionists to join republicans in shaping an agreed united Ireland.

Party chairman Mitchel McLaughlin claimed Irish unity was inevitable and called on unionists to engage with them.

The Foyle MLA said: "I think there is a growing acceptance that we are inexorably moving towards unity. (Ulster
Unionist leader) David Trimble`s comments in March calling for a referendum on the border are a reflection of that debate.  Certainly, we are of the view that discussions should start sooner rather than later, so our respective communities can design the kind of united Ireland we can all live in."

"We believe a united Ireland is going to happen, so it is better that we work together to shape that in a proactive and positive way rather than a reactive manner. It will enable us to properly address any concerns," he said.

Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghin O Caolain, who was joined at Stormont by three of the party`s four new TDs - Martin Ferris, Sean Crowe and Aengus O Snodaigh - hoped today`s meeting would be the "beginning of a series of ongoing and ever closer working relations between our elected representatives throughout the island of Ireland."

"We are looking forward too to a reciprocal welcome to our representatives here in the Assembly when they visit en bloc Leinster House in the not too distant future.  Part of our work is working towards and wanting to see as early as possible our elected members of parliament representing the Six Counties taking their place in Leinster House, participating in open debate and joining up in presenting a real all-Ireland representation for the people of Ireland."

Sinn Féin Assembly Group leader Conor Murphy welcomed the TDs, saying there were "many urgent issues" which required urgent attention and co-operation throughout the island of Ireland.

These were "issues of agriculture, health, education, in environment and transport."

The Newry and Armagh MLA added: "It is our intention in moving towards an all-Ireland set-up that we take full advantage of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, that we co-operate fully with our colleagues in the South and we build on all of these issues and make sure no obstacles stand in our way to the areas that need co- operation."

Sep. 18,  2002
BLAIR MEETS ADAMS IN LONDON

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams went to Downing Street today to warn British Prime Minister Tony Blair that his government was losing its 'strategic vision' for peace in Northern Ireland.  Accompanied by Martin McGuinness MP and other Sinn Féin politicians, Mr. Adams said the meeting had come `at a very opportune time`.

"There is increasing concern that the government runs the risk of losing the strategic vision it showed in relation to Ireland with the Good Friday Agreement," he said.

Adams, the MP for West Belfast, told reporters in Downing Street that there had been `no progress` on some issues, adding: "Over the last 18 months/two years John Reid has failed to bring about changes required and I want to discuss that with the Prime Minister."

He said he was particularly concerned with sectarian violence in the region.

Adams went on: "We have concerns on policing, demilitarization and, generally speaking, the need for the Government to be refocused on the agreement."

Earlier, Reid walked up Downing Street to take part in the talks.

Yesterday, Adams repeated his party`s opposition to a government proposal for a mechanism for monitoring paramilitary violence.

Republicans have described the idea of a monitor as a concession in the run-up to Saturday`s crucial ruling council meeting of Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble`s Ulster Unionists, who they are re-considering their policy of power sharing with Sinn Féin.

Sinn Féin have also condemned the British government announcement that closed-circuit cameras will be erected along the Short Strand peace line in east Belfast as another concession.

Later, Adams emerged from Downing Street saying the 80 minute meeting with the Prime Minister was "positive."

He told reporters outside No 10 that he had raised issues of policing, sectarian violence and demilitarization, including a "review of events of the summer."

But the Sinn Féin leader reiterated his concern that the peace process had fallen into a `trough`.

"The great changes that have taken place over the last 10 years have now ground down to a halt."
 

He said Reid`s failure to bring about changes in Northern Ireland had the effect of "delaying, slowing down and minimizing the changes" promised in the Good Friday agreement.

Flanked by  McGuiness, Crowe and Murphy, he added: "We`re committed to moving forward but only if we have confidence among Republican and Nationalists and other pro-agreement people that it seems to be a process for change and that the pain people are taking is actually for something and that the government here in London is honoring its commitments.  The Prime Minister told us that he accepted this analysis."

Adams said he was concerned that the "strategic vision" of the British government had `dimmed` because of the "need on a day-to-day basis to try and sustain or uphold or defend whatever section of unionism is for this agreement."

He said the government was pandering to the Unionists but warned "the political peace process needs to continue."

"Mr. Blair has a huge responsibility," he said.

Questioned about Sinn Féin`s possible membership of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, Mr. Adams went said the group would want to see "the color of legislative amendments" before making a decision.

The timing of legislative amendments was a "secondary" issue but it was now time for the "British government to face up to its responsibilities on policing."

McGuiness said Sinn Féin remained committed to the Good Friday agreement. "The strongest message we can deliver, whether it be to unionists rejectionists or republican rejectionists, is that we are not going to give up on the Good Friday agreement.  All sides must continue to whole heartedly promote and embrace the Good Friday agreement and that`s the best way to defeat those people who appear to be dead set to bringing it down."

Adams said he felt the Prime Minister was "wedded to the process" but it was now time to see "progress on the process for change."

"The focus needs to be about bringing change," he said.

Sep. 19,  2002
ARD FHEIS WILL DECIDE ON JOINING POLICE BOARD

Sinn FÈin leader Gerry Adams said today that his party would call an ardfheis (national convention) to discuss joining the Northern Ireland Policing Board if the British government tabled sufficient legislative changes to bring policing arrangements in to line with what was recommended in the Patten Report.

It is thought that British Prime Minister  Tony Blair will bring legislation before the next session of parliament aimed at easing nationalist fears over policing.

Speaking after talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday, the Sinn Féin president also described the appointment of a violence monitor as "a distraction."

Adams said his party needed to see substantial changes before it would consider taking its seats on the Policing Board.

"What is in the legislative amendments at the moment no one knows, the Irish government don`t know, the SDLP don`t know, we don`t know, only the British know and it is the content of the amendments which will decide the future of policing in this part of the world," he said.

"We will face up to this issue democratically. We will call a special Ard Fheis if our leadership is convinced that there is a threshold by which we can move forward, we will do that.  We will argue it out democratically and we will take our decisions and we will be bound by those decisions," he said.

Sept. 19, 2002
TRIMBLE ASKS FOR MEETING WITH DONALDSON

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has asked for a meeting with leading anti-Agreement MP Jeffrey Donaldson ahead of this weekend's UUP ruling council meeting over power-sharing with Sinn Féin.

As the battle for control of the party escalates,  Trimble has said he wants to talk to Jeffrey Donaldson in the interests of "avoiding confrontation."

Both men are attempting to persuade grass roots members to back their plans and have sent letters to the 860-strong ruling council asking for their support. Trimble has said he is seeking the meeting on the basis that  Donaldson's letter indicates a desire to preserve the assembly.
 

Donaldson has said he is still considering the request and any such meeting would be unlikely to take place before Friday.

He also suggested any meeting would involve senior party officers.

In his letter to delegates, Trimble acknowledges there are problems with the peace process, but insists it has also brought economic and social benefits.

 Trimble said bringing down the power-sharing executive was 'not the answer'.

On Wednesday, plans for independent monitoring of paramilitary violence in Northern Ireland were announced by the North's secretary of state, John Reid.

Trimble's letter argues that the violence monitor is a useful tool to keep pressure on republicans 'not to violate democratic principles'.

It also suggests that a negative report from the monitor could force the British government to act and that if the government fails to act, he will.

However, Lagan Valley MP Donaldson's letter suggests the proposed violence monitor is no substitute for resolute action.

The anti-Agreement unionist promises to table a plan that would focus on the need to preserve the assembly while offering an effective mechanism to exclude Sinn Féin from power-sharing.  Any such plan would effectively be in breach of the Good Friday Agreement.

Speaking today, Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid denied the plan was designed to help Mr. Trimble ahead of the weekend meeting of his party's ruling council.

He said the monitor had 'an important role' to play. "It is to make absolutely plain that wild west behavior will not be tolerated," he said.  "It is also to see that everyone involved, right across the law and order and justice system, is operating together in a seamless unit aimed at getting better product at the end of it."

However,  Donaldson said he did not think the move would go any way to addressing the extent of the problem of paramilitary violence in the North.

"John Reid has turned a blind eye to the IRA and to the loyalist paramilitaries and what they have been doing," he said. "We want to know what the government is now going to do in respect of the broken ceasefires that have already occurred."

The independent auditor is expected to issue quarterly reports, with the first to be delivered before Christmas.

However, the political and legal decision on whether a ceasefire has been broken or not will rest with Reid.

Sept. 20, 2002
TRIMBLE PREDICTS SINN FÉIN WILL JOIN POLICE BOARD

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble predicted today that Sinn Féin is going to sign up to the new Northern Ireland Policing Board after the next Assembly election.

 Sinn FÈin leader Gerry Adams said yesterday that his party would call an ardfheis (national convention) to discuss joining the Policing Board if the British government tabled sufficient legislative changes to bring policing arrangements in to line with what was recommended in the Patten Report.

But  Trimble said he expected "another Sinn Féin u-turn."

As Sinn Féin prepared for a meeting today in the Irish Republic border town of Dundalk to consider the latest developments in the peace process, First Minister David Trimble noted their leadership had vowed: "No return to Stormont - They are in Stormont;  No partitionist settlement - they signed up to a partitionist settlement; Gerry Adams wouldn`t speak to the Chief Constable - Now he can see circumstances where he can."

"We are going to get another Sinn Féin u-turn and I think you will see it teed up for the aftermath of the May elections and they will do it in response for a few fig leaf gestures in terms of legislation."

With the British government promising nationalists legislation delivering more police reforms during the next session of Parliament, the Stormont First Minister claimed Adams was looking for a way of nominating members of his party to the board which holds the new police service accountable.

The Upper Bann MP added: "But the crucial thing is this: it is wholly inconsistent and incompatible for him to be on the Policing Board and for paramilitarism to continue. There is a complete contradiction there and he knows if
they are making a move towards going on the Policing Board, they have to, at the same time, resolve the paramilitary problem."

Trimble was commenting ahead of a crucial meeting of his party`s 860-member ruling council tomorrow which will determine whether the UUP will continue power sharing with Sinn Féin in the run-up to the Assembly Elections.

Critics of the policy want the UUP to get tough with Sinn Anti-Agreement UUP members, led by Jeffrey Donaldson and David Burnside, want the UUP to end the power-sharing arrangement as outlined in the Good Friday Agreement.

Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson has signaled in a letter to 860 Ulster Unionist Council delegates he would like to retain the Assembly but also wants an effective mechanism for excluding Sinn Féin.

However, this arrangement would be specifically in breach  of the Good Friday Agreement. 

Trimble said their respective positions were not a million miles away and he hoped a compromise could be reached with his colleague which the party could unite around.

As frantic efforts took place behind the scenes to find common ground, he warned his critics whatever strategy they came up with it would have to "take public opinion" with them.

"What you have got to do has got to be in terms of a strategy and within a context where you have reasonable expectation that things will work out. But one of the things that is critical in all of this, and some of my unionist opponents forget this, is that you have got to take public opinion with you.  Not hard-line unionist opinion, not just unionist opinion as a whole, but you have got to take public opinion with you in Britain and around the world. That is crucial," he said.

Sept. 20, 2002
TRIMBLE-DONALDSON TALKS END WITHOUT AGREEMENT

Talks between the Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble and Jeffrey Dondaldson have ended this afternoon without agreement. 

  The discussions, which lasted less than an hour, failed to reach an agreement about how tomorrow`s important meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council should proceed.

Talks between the two men were taking place ahead of a  meeting of the UUP`s 860 member ruling council, with Mr. Donaldson demanding that his party end sharing power with Sinn Féin.

Last night, Trimble hinted at moves to find common ground with the Lagan Valley MP who has pledged to bring forward a new strategy for the party at their meeting tomorrow in Belfast. He warned his critics they had to produce a strategy capable of winning not just unionist opinion but public opinion in Britain and abroad.

A senior Ulster Unionist source said there was a "distinct possibility" that Ulster Unionist ministers would withdraw from the power sharing executive by Christmas.

Jim Rodgers, who is the former Belfast Lord Mayor and Assembly candidate for east Belfast, reiterated his opposition to the appointment of a ceasefire monitor.

He said Trimble was "hoping that the appointment of the independent assessor in relation to the breaking of ceasefires will not be able to report for several months."

Ulster Unionist sources at Stormont suggested Mr. Trimble could take a harder position on Sinn Féin despite the First Minister`s insistence yesterday that the recently announced independent paramilitary violence monitor offers some hope for unionists disillusioned with sharing power with Sinn Féin.

With several UUP members expressing dissatisfaction with the party`s policy of power sharing with Sinn Féin amid allegations of ongoing IRA activity, one source said: "David could find himself having to move to a position which is harder than the one he is taking now. There is pressure on him to accept some graduated form of sanctions. There is no rush to pull the Assembly down but there is no stomach for sitting still either."

********

Sept. 21, 2002
GUN ATTACKS ON THREE CATHOLIC HOMES

Gun attacks have been launched on three Catholic homes near a sectarian flashpoint in north Belfast, it emerged today.  Police confirmed shotgun blasts smashed several windows  during the overnight attacks in the Whitewell area of the city.
 Two homes in Bawnmore Park and one in Longlands Court were targeted — both staunchly nationalist districts.

  No-one was injured but Sinn Féin claimed the shootings were designed to stoke up tensions ahead of a highly-charged loyalist parade tonight.

  Several flute bands are due in the neighboring White City estate to mark the first anniversary since protestant teenager Thomas McDonald was knocked off his bicycle and killed by a car emerging from Longlands.

  But Sinn Féin councillor Danny Lavery insisted the gun attacks were designed to provoke a reaction during tonight's march.

  He said: "We are going to try to keep our people quiet, but these shootings were just carried out to get nationalist people's blood up."

  However, Brian Dunn, a community worker in the White City estate, insisted the loyalist parade had just been organized so people in the area could pay respects to the McDonald family.

Sep. 22,  2002
IRA MUST DISAPPEAR, SAYS DONALDSON

The anti-Agreement Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson has said the IRA must 'disappear' before his party will consider sharing power with Sinn FÈin after the Jan. 18 deadline adopted yesterday.

Donaldson said the IRA's 'organization, structure, weapons and threat must all go'.

Meanwhile, UUP leader David Trimble today called on all IRA members to quit the paramilitary organization and join Sinn Féin to save the Northern Ireland peace process.

Insisting a complete disintegration of the IRA could be done within the four-month time frame, he claimed this could be done in a number of ways.  He suggested: "It could be that the people in the IRA move unequivocally into Sinn Féin and devote themselves purely to democratic means."

The new threat to the peace process emerged following a crunch meeting of the UUP`s 860-strong ruling council in Belfast yesterday.

Trimble`s party has also vowed to end its involvement in meetings of the North South Ministerial Council involving Sinn Féin ministers, effective immediately.

Irish premier Bertie Ahern said the decision of the Ulster Unionist Council was "regrettable and a cause for concern."

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams denounced the plan as a "wrecker`s charter."

SDLP leader and Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan said the Ulster Unionists had adopted an anti-Agreement agenda which was jeopardizing devolution.

With the real prospect of Northern Ireland`s government collapsing early in the New Year due to a UUP withdrawal, the British and Irish governments have penciled in urgent talks.

The North's Secretary of State, John Reid, is also to organize meetings with all the pro-Good Friday Agreement parties in a bid to save the peace process following yesterday's ultimatum set by the Ulster Unionist Council. 

Reid today urged all sides to remember what is at stake. He said: "It doesn`t surprise me that in a huge historic  project like this the matter of trust and reassurance will continually raise itself.  I just hope that everyone will remember not only what they need for their side of the community, but what we would all lose if this process falters."

Reid said the government would hold consultations with the political parties and the Irish Government soon.

Today,  Trimble insisted there was no reason why IRA decommissioning couldn`t be completed by January 18 and claimed Mr. Adams should have been preparing the IRA for the "inevitable."

"If he has there isn`t a problem. If he hasn`t obviously there`s a problem," the UUP chief said.  "This process cannot be sustained as things stand at the moment."

Sep. 23,  2002
NATIONALISTS CONDEMN UUP THREAT

The nationalist SDLP and Sinn Féin have condemned a threat by the Ulster Unionist Party to collapse the Northern Ireland Executive unless the IRA disband by January 18.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said the political process was now in crisis following the decision taken at the Ulster Unionist Council meeting on Saturday.  He is seeking a meeting with David Trimble and the other party leaders to discuss the future.

 "As a supposedly pro-Agreement leader, David Trimble is now
essentially wearing a sandwich board for Jeffrey Donaldson and the anti-Agreement position," he said. "That is the import of the decision on Saturday."

In a withering attack on the Northern Ireland First Minister, nationalist SDLP deputy leader Brid Rodgers accused him of now joining the 'No' unionists.

The Stormont Agriculture Minister said: "I have had many calls and many conversations with nationalists over the past 48 hours who are now asking: `what is he doing?`.  "Is he now making it clear that he`s going to collapse the power-sharing executive and the North South institutions which are an essential part of the Agreement - so essential that nationalists would not have signed up to it without them?  Is he now resisting the Patten police reform proposals and clearly wanting to go back to the old Royal Ulster Constabulary?"

"People feel that David Trimble and the Ulster Unionists are failing to recognize the true threat of paramilitary violence, the threat to life and limb from paramilitaries not on ceasefire. What is wrecking the institutions going to do about that?"

 Rodgers said nationalist voters had taken a "leap of faith" in Mr. Trimble as First Minister despite memories of him "holding hands" with the hard line Democratic Unionist leader, the Reverent Ian Paisley on Portadown`s Garvaghy Road during the 1995 Drumcree marching dispute.

They had banked on him embracing the partnership requirement of the Good Friday Agreement but there was now "huge anger" in the wake of Saturday`s Ulster Unionist council meeting at his actions.

She continued: "It is now imperative that the message gets out that this Agreement is not for re-negotiation.  The SDLP will not be changing or allowing change to the North South arrangements or the Patten reforms."

Rodgers also called on British Prime Minister Tony Blair to recognize that Mr. Trimble had created further instability by joining with party hardliners in issuing a threat to resign from the power-sharing government on January 18 if republicans did not satisfy them of their commitment to exclusively peaceful and democratic needs.

"He has kow-towed and failed to stand up to the No men in unionism," the Stormont Minister observed.

"In fact he has created insecurity within the unionist community by his actions.  There is a section within his own community who are extremely unhappy today at the prospect of him pulling down the institutions in January. Those people are thinking of the impact of the pulling down of the previous power-sharing institutions - they think of Sunningdale.  The Ulster Unionist party have to think very carefully about what this all means if they pull this down."

"They need to make up their minds whether they are going to share power with us and support equality and consent - or whether they are intent on going back to the past and following the No men."

Rodgers` criticism of the Ulster Unionist leader came after a day of angry exchanges between the UUP and other pro-Agreement parties.

As the Stormont executive laid out details of its draft program for government, Sinn Féin chairman Mitchel McLaughlin accused Trimble of political cowardice.

He asked: "Does this final program for government for this executive have the ability to deliver on the agenda for change in light of the political cowardice of the unionist political leadership?"

Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness accused the Ulster Unionist Party of assaulting the Good Friday Agreement.

"What we are witnessing now is a full-frontal assault on the Good Friday Agreement by both the UUP and the DUP and it is about denying equality to the people we represent," he said.

"It is about totally destroying power-sharing and the institutions established under the terms of the Agreement."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley has called for the assembly to be dissolved so elections can be held immediately.

DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said the UUP deadline was solely in the interest of the party.

"The activity at the weekend was entirely designed for one purpose it was not to save Ulster it was not to save the
union it was simply to save the Ulster Unionist Party," he said.

Sep. 24,  2002
UUP IS ENCOURAGING SECTARIAN KILLINGS - ADAMS

David Trimble's Ulster Unionists are encouraging a new loyalist paramilitary killing spree by threatening Northern Ireland's power-sharing government, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams claimed today.

Adams also urged the British Government not to suspend the North`s devolved political institutions if the UUP quits the Stormont cabinet in the New Year.

Trimble has set Sinn Féin a Jan. 18 deadline to provide guarantees that the IRA will disband or else his ministers will walk out of the executive.

But with loyalist paramilitaries behind a spate of sectarian shootings in Belfast, Adams warned the Unionists` actions could provoke further murders. He said: "Those soberly suited people in the UUP are encouraging sectarian killings."

The Ulster Unionists have already vowed to boycott all North-South ministerial meetings involving Sinn Féin.

But it is the threat to pull down the political institutions and plunge Northern Ireland`s peace process into crisis which has sent alarm bells ringing among supporters of the peace process.

The move was ratified at a meeting of the UUP`s ruling council on Saturday.

If Trimble is not satisfied that Sinn Féin is totally committed to democratic means by January 18 then the power- sharing administration would almost certainly be left with just nationalists and republicans.

But after Adams held talks with the SDLP leader Mark Durkan at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, today to discuss the crisis he insisted the British and Irish governments must press on with implementing the Good Friday Agreement regardless of what action Unionists take.

He said: "Tony Blair should not be following the Unionist agenda and should not be even contemplating suspension of the institutions."

The West Belfast MP insisted that it was now up to the two governments and all other pro-Agreement parties to minimize the damage caused by a Unionist walk-out.

"Unionism will at some point in the future be up to the task of managing (the peace process) but we can`t wait for them," he said.

The Sinn Féin leader claimed that its leader had assured him there was nothing to worry about going into last weekend`s council meeting.

He added: "I met David Trimble 10 days ago. David Trimble told me there wouldn`t be any problem at the conference on Saturday, the problem would come at (next year`s Assembly) elections."

Sinn Féin has now consulted its lawyers over what Mr. Adams called a breach of the agreement but he stressed that did not mean the party would be taking legal action.

However, he has called for urgent meetings with both the British Government and Trimble.

In an attack on Mr. Trimble, SDLP leader Mark Durkan said yesterday that the Ulster Unionists` move had created a deep crisis in the political process.

"People cannot understand why all of that should now be jeopardized on the basis of the latest position adopted by the UUP," he said.

"We are not going to do anything to compound the damage that was already done on Saturday. Nor are we going to be inert or complicit in a process that will lead to the hemorrhaging of the process.  Clearly, Saturday`s position undertaken by the UUP creates a bigger gulf and bigger gap between my position as a pro-Agreement deputy first minister and Mr. Trimble`s position as a first minister who is, at best, pro-Agreement lite."

In a scathing attack on Trimble, Stormont Education Minister and Sinn Féin MP Martin McGuinness accused the Upper Bann MP of launching a "full frontal attack" on the Agreement with his new ultimatum for republicans.

He claimed: "David Trimble is no more than a front for the rejectionists who now control the Ulster Unionist Party."

Sep. 25,  2002 
MEETINGS IN DUBLIN OVER PEACE CRISIS

British and Irish government ministers were today holding emergency talks in Dublin in a bid to save the Northern Ireland peace process from collapse following Saturday's decision of the Ulster Unionist Council to immediately
withdraw from North-South council ministerial meetings and to effectively set a deadline to bring down the power- sharing Assembly on Jan. 18th.

  But Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams claimed the threat to pull down Northern Ireland`s political institutions would encourage loyalist paramilitaries to mount a new murder campaign.

He is due to hold talks with the Irish premier Bertie Ahern tomorrow.

Before that, however, the Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid and Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen are due to meet in Dublin today.

A Northern Ireland Office source described it as an opportunity to assess the damage caused to the Good Friday Agreement by the moves ratified at a weekend UUP Council meeting.

He said: "They will be taking stock of where we are and ways of resolving the difficulties in the process.  No doubt there will be other meetings with other groups and parties."

Sept. 25, 2002
ADAIR KICKED OUT OF UDA

Johnny Adair, the leader of one of the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Defense Association's six brigades has been dumped by the UDA leadership, it was claimed tonight.

The organization said: "He is no longer acceptable in our organization." A statement appeared to confirm growing suspicions of a major rift inside the largest of the Protestant terror groups following a shooting of a major drugs dealer and rival in Northern Ireland.

Adair, the UDA's west Belfast commander, was accused tonight of acting as an "agent provocateur" between his organization and the splinter Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF)

Stephen Warnock, 35, was shot dead at the wheel of his BMW in Newtownards, Co.Down, earlier this month.

Later the UDA's east Belfast commander Jim Gray was shot in the face in apparent reprisal attack, heightening fears of an all our shooting war between factions.

A UDA statement tonight insisted none of its members had any part in the Warnock shooting.

It added: "It has since come to light that certain people have been acting as agent provocateurs between the Ulster Defense Association and the Loyalist Volunteer Force to capitalize on these events for their own purpose.  As a result of ongoing investigations the present brigadier of west Belfast is no longer acceptable in our organization."

Sept. 25, 2002
KEY IS MAKING INSTITUTIONS FUNCTION - HAASS

President George W. Bush's point man on Northern Ireland, Richard Haass, has said that the key to progress in the Northern Ireland peace process was to "make the institutions function."

Haass, who recently returned from Ireland and Britain having met with political leaders there, was speaking to reporters at the State Department in Washington, DC, today.

Following the decision by the Ulster Unionist Council to resign from the Power-sharing Executive on Jan 18 if the IRA has not disbanded and disarmed, Dr. Haass told the IAIS that the Agreement was the "center-piece" for progress.

"The Good Friday Agreement has made a real contribution.  At the end of the day, it (the GFA), or something like it, is inevitable as the center-piece."

However, he did not rule out the possibility of some changes been made "if everyone involved agrees."

"The idea that there are some basic changes that are going to be sought by one party or another that are totally resisted by another side is not going to work.  This has got to move ahead consensually.  So I think the emphasis ought to be on implementing the existing Agreement and on the full range of behavior that shapes the context in which these agreements exist.  That is the key," Haass said.

Also today, Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary and Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs said both governments remained committed to the Good Friday Agreement as the basis for the political future of the North.

The statement follows this afternoon's meeting in Dublin.

John Reid also said the British government will deliver on the commitments on policing reform it made to the SDLP and the Irish Government last year.

Speaking after Wednesday's meeting,  Reid said the parties must work to the Agreement.
 

"If there is an alternative to the Good Friday Agreement, I have never seen it, no one has ever explained it to me," he said.

"We are all open-minded people, but as far as I am concerned the future of Northern Ireland is based on the Agreement that has been reached.  It has been backed by the people of Ireland, north and south of the border, by all the major political parties who have sustained it up to this point and, quite apart from that, there can be no sustainable future for Northern Ireland unless it's based on the principles that are enshrined inside the Agreement."

Reid added he still believed both unionists and republicans were committed to the process, although both needed reassurances.

Agreeing with Minister Cowaní's assertion that the Irish Government was determined to get through current difficulties, Secretary Reid said this was the fourth serious difficulty the Agreement had faced since he became Secretary of State. And while it would be difficult, he said, "we should be able to get through this."

While stating he wanted to see all aspects of the Agreement working, he said it was not within his power to force anyone to attend anymore than it was in his power to make the IRA disband.

Cowen also emphasized the Irish government's determination for the full implementation of the Agreement.

Both parties recognized the need for further talks and meetings with concerned parties and between the Taoiseach, Mr. Ahern, and the British Prime Minister Tony Blair are planned.

Sept. 30, 2002
NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRIMBLE AND DONALDSON - SINN FÉIN

There is now "no substantial difference" between Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble and Jeffrey Donaldson, a Sinn Féin MP claimed tonight. Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew told a fringe meeting at the Labor Party conference in Blackpool Mr. Trimble was "no more or no less a front for the rejectionists who now control the policy and the direction of the UUP."

In a hard hitting attack on the First Minister, she said: "David Trimble is where he is politically because he is more comfortable there than he is acting as a First Minister for the unionist and nationalist people of the north (of Ireland)."

"He is more comfortable in his Upper Bann bunker than he is at meetings of the All-Ireland Ministerial Council.  There is in reality, at present, no substantial difference between Trimble and Donaldson. It is a question of style and timing.  Donaldson wants to wreck the Agreement`s institutions within days or weeks. Trimble wants to do it in four months - on Jan. 18 next year."

Gildernew was speaking at a fringe meeting of Labor`s Northern Ireland Parliamentary Group chaired by Helen Jackson. Among those taking part were Ulster Unionist MP for North Down, Lady Sylvia Hermon, SDLP Assembly member for Lagan Valley, Patricia Lewsley and Women`s Coalition Assembly member for South Belfast, Monica McWilliams.

The Sinn Féin MP tonight accused  Trimble of  manufacturing a threat to the peace process "posed by the silent guns of the IRA."

She rounded on him and other unionists for `blatantly` ignoring "the sectarian violence of the UDA in particular but also the other unionist paramilitaries."

Gildernew also attacked Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid for "pandering" to unionist demands in the run-up to the Ulster Unionist Council`s meeting nine days ago which saw Mr. Trimble`s party threaten to pull out of the Executive next January if it was not convinced by republicans` commitment to abandon violence for good.

"The two governments and particularly the British Government need to fill the vacuum that has been created," the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP said. "We have seen over the summer how such vacuums are exploited by anti-Agreement elements and how sectarian violence has been switched on and off to undermine public confidence. 

"Unionism has to accept that there is no better deal on offer than the Good Friday Agreement.  It has to accept that there is no alternative to the changes it requires and the equality it demands.  The British Government have to accept also that
the pandering which has led directly to this crisis must stop. 

"The British Government must grasp the political nettle and face down the No camp within unionism and the rejectionists within its own system if this process is going to be allowed to work."

"There is a real danger that this Labor Government are in danger of losing the strategic vision which has allowed much progress to be made over the past 10 years and replacing it with complacency, short term tactical management and indeed returning to the old agenda of bolstering unionists while pointing the finger of blame at republicans," she said. 

Earlier today, nationalist SDLP leader Mark Durkan said that the British government must vigorously defend the Good Friday Agreement from the ''serial vandalism'' of unionist politicians.

The Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister told a fringe meeting - organized by his party at the Labor Party conference in Blackpool - that the government must not dilute or diminish legislation on further police reforms in the face of Ulster Unionist threats to withdraw from the political institutions.

He told guests, including the Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid, the peace process was "in crisis."

He added: "Nationalists - and all pro-Agreement people - are deeply alarmed at the threats being made by the UUP to the institutions of the Agreement.  (These include) The threat to freeze the North-South Ministerial Council, the threat to collapse the inclusive (power sharing) Executive. The threat to withdraw from the new policing structures. Together, this amounts to nothing less than a threatened demolition derby of the entire Good Friday Agreement."

Oct. 1, 2002
UUP THREATEN TO WITHDRAW FROM POLICE BOARD

A leading Ulster Unionist MP said today that Unionists will leave Northern Ireland's Policing Board if the British government introduces more police reforms in the North to bring the PSNI into line with the Patten Report's recommendations.

  During a visit to the Labor Party conference in Blackpool, the anti-Agreement UP MP, David Burnside, warned the British government that unionists would not tolerate further reforms "at the behest of nationalists and republicans."

Following Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid`s announcement that he intends to press ahead with more police reform legislation, the South Antrim MP noted: "It is quite clear he needs to stop and read the Ulster Unionist Council motion of 10 days ago closely.  The unionist community is not going to stand by and allow a further weakening of policing in the province. They will not tolerate further concessions to the SDLP and Sinn Féin."

"I think you have to only look at what has happened as a result of the Patten reforms to see just why - the fall-off in police numbers, the decimation and demoralization of our police, gangsterism rampant in society.  Labor may think it can use its Parliamentary majority to force these 12 legislative changes through but unionists will not continue to co-operate with the Policing Board," he said.

Following a meeting last month with the nationalist SDLP, Prime Minister Tony Blair indicated that his government would introduce more police reforms in the next session of Parliament.

The additional reforms, promised during last year`s Weston Park talks, were crucial in persuading Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan`s party to encourage nationalists for the first time to join the police.

The SDLP also nominated three MLAs to the board which holds the new Police Service of Northern Ireland accountable.

Sinn Féin boycotted the Policing Board on the basis that current police reforms fall short of the Patten Report's recommendations.

Republicans have called for a ban on the use of plastic bullets and greater accountability but have hinted they could end their boycott if the legislative changes address their concerns.

Ulster Unionists and Democratic Unionists currently have seven board members between them compared to the SDLP`s three.

At the Labor Party Conference in Blackpool today, Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid said he remained committed to
implementing the policing plan agreed at Weston Park.

Reid claimed: "The SDLP have shown a great deal of courage and leadership in trying to resolve what is a generations old problem in Northern Ireland and to form a new representative policing service.  The implementation plan, which I outlined last year after discussion with all of the parties ... is the basis on which I will proceed and I told Mark Durkan that."

Ulster Unionists at their ruling council 10 days ago threatened to withdraw support for the power-sharing executive next January unless the IRA completely disarmed and disbanded.

On the wider political process,  Burnside today also rounded on SDLP leader Mark Durkan for accusing his party of "serial vandalism" over its threat to pull out of the power sharing executive next January.

The South Antrim MP responded: "If Mark Durkan wants to maintain the institutions in Stormont, then he knows what he and his party must do - they must join with unionists in taking action against republicans. It is as simple as that."

Also speaking at the Labor Party conference this afternoon, Prime Minister Blair said that self-government in the North was working.

"Remember how 10 years ago they said devolution would break up Britain," he said.

"And now there is a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly, the nationalists are running away from separatism and not a single party in Britain proposes going back.  And in Northern Ireland, for all the difficulties, republicans and unionists sit in government together and the principle of consent is accepted North and South on the island of Ireland for the first time in 80 years."

Oct. 2, 2002
PSNI RESERVE TO BE RETAINED

Full-time reserve police officers in Northern Ireland are set to be given a three-year lifeline, it has been claimed.  Sources on the Police Board which oversees the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) have indicated that the services of the 2,000 men and women will be retained, contrary to what was envisaged in the Patten Report on policing.

One Police Board member said: "The board will agree on Thursday to run with the proposal to keep the full-time reserve until 2005.  Some sort of severance package will also be put in place for after that date."

Hugh Orde, the former Metropolitan Police officer who took charge of the Police Service of Northern Ireland last month, urged the board to keep the full-time reserve for front-line duties when he set out his new resource strategy last week.

The threat of an all-out loyalist paramilitary shooting war on the streets of Belfast, plunging crime detection rates and high absenteeism levels have left the police short- handed.

Northern Ireland Secretary  John Reid has already confirmed he would rubber-stamp any decision reached by the Chief Constable and the Policing Board. Under the Patten blueprint for reforming the old Royal Ulster Constabulary, the full-time reserve was to be phased out.

But at a meeting of the board`s personnel committee in Belfast last night, Orde`s request was backed.  Representatives from the nationalist SDLP have insisted that the full-time reserve should be done away with.

But it is now expected that unionists will get their way when the full board meets on Thursday to ratify the decision.

The move comes as hardline Ulster Unionist MP David Burnside warned that his party could quit the board next month if Parliament approves more policing reforms.

He accused Reid of underestimating the depth of unionist opposition.

The South Antrim MP said: "John Reid doesn`t seem to realize the concern with the unionist community.  It`s more than a cold house - it`s a freezing house."

SDLP board member Alex Attwood insisted his party was focused on getting more police officers away from desk jobs and out serving the community.

He said: "As part of that we wish to see the Patten requirement for the full time reserve being phased out over the next three years being agreed.  It`s our expectation that the requirements for the board to manage human resources and in particular the full time reserve element
will be entered into when we come to a decision on Thursday."

But Fred Cobain, one of the Ulster Unionist members on the board, insisted that the need to retain the full time reserves was paramount.

He said: "Anyone in their right mind should not be looking to reduce the number of police officers on the ground. Nationalist and unionist areas are crying out for more police resources to tackle the terrorist threat and also ordinary crimes.  We are delighted as a party that something we have been campaigning for has come to fruition and as far as Patten is concerned it`s another nail in the coffin."

In other news today, Police have said they believe the Provisional IRA were responsible for a gun attack on a man in Derry City.

However, Sinn Féin has denied the IRA was involved.

Danny McBrearty was driving a group of pensioners home from a day trip to Donegal, in the Republic of Ireland, on Sunday when he was attacked by masked men.

He was struck with a hammer and shot in the legs in the  incident in Arranmore Avenue in the Creggan estate.  McBrearty is in stable condition in hospital.

Oct. 3,  2002
ORDE ANNOUNCES RETENTION OF POLICE RESERVE

Full-time reservists with the Police Service of Northern Ireland will remain in place until at least April, 2005. The decision was announced following a meeting of the Policing Board and the Chief Constable, Hugh Orde, in Belfast this afternoon.

The Patten proposals on the future of policing recommended the reserve should be scrapped when the security situation allowed.

But Orde had pressed the 19-member board to agree to the retention of the reserve for another three years. After the meeting, the board said the contracts of about 1,200 police reservists would be extended until April 2005.

At that point a severance scheme will be offered and the reserve will be phased out completely by October 2006 unless there is a significant deterioration in the security situation or problems with the 50:50 Catholic recruitment program.

Orde said: "These officers were uncertain about their future. What we have delivered today is certainty."

Most points of the chief constable's plan for the future resourcing of the police service were unanimously backed by the board.

He plans to employ civilians in a number of areas to free up officers from desk jobs. The most immediate of these will be in the operation of CCTV cameras.  "This is a very important package - civilianization will be a key part of the plan," said Orde.

Board Chairman Professor Desmond Rea said he considered the proposals as the "most complex and most important issue" the Policing Board has had to deal with.

"This is a police service moving forward and to do that it needs to have the right staff in the right place," he said. "Success will depend on delivering all elements of the plan with the given timescales."

The Northern Ireland Secretary, John Reid, said he welcomed the outcome of today's discussions.  "The board and the chief constable have addressed core issues in relation to ensuring that the police can provide the efficient and effective service which the public is entitled to expect," he said.

 Meanwhile, Sinn Féin's policing spokesman Gerry Kelly has ruled out his party sitting on the Policing Board in the near future. Sinn Féin has refused to nominate members to the board because the present structures and reforms fall short of the Patten report.

At a news conference in Belfast on Thursday, Mr. Kelly dismissed the board as a "toothless tiger."

The review of policing in Northern Ireland by former Hong Kong Gov. Chris Patten was one of the key elements of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. 
 
 

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