Sinn Fein accused Prime Minister Tony Blair today of “denying democracy” to the people of Northern Ireland by refusing to set a date for the Stormont elections.

SINN FÉIN president Gerry Adams yesterday called for British Prime Minister Tony Blair to reconsider the postponement of Northern Assembly elections, saying there was no reason they couldn’t be held as soon as next month.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said today there was no reason why Northern Ireland elections could not be held next month and that the IRA had delivered a “hugely advanced package” of intent to end paramilitary activity.

It is frustrating to consider that a question of semantics may be restraining progress in Northern Ireland’s peace process.

THE IRA last night clarified its future intentions to the Irish and British governments, just as its ambiguous language threatened to derail the latest peace deal at the final hurdle.

The deputy leader of the Northern Ireland Unionist Party has announced his intention to resign from the Assembly at the next Stormont elections.

Hardline unionists were today blocked from mounting a separate legal challenge against Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble.