Doubt over North elections delay

THE British Government has refused to consider any delays in the Northern Ireland Assembly elections, despite Tony Blair's announcement that the poll would be put back four weeks.

Mr Blair announced on Tuesday night that the poll would now take place on May 29 in an attempt to break the political deadlock and restore devolution.

One source said: "We will work on the legislation necessary for the new election date, but we would not want to go beyond that."

Pressure was yesterday intensifying for the IRA to make the huge move on disarmament now needed to rescue the peace process.

After a marathon two-day talks session at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, Mr Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern have yet to close a deal with all sides in Belfast.

The two leaders now plan to return with their blueprint next month and tell the parties: take it or leave it.

It is understood broad agreement has been reached on plans for a major scaling down of troop levels in Northern Ireland, as well as reforms to policing and the criminal justice system.

But David Trimble's Ulster Unionists are demanding the IRA destroy their huge arsenal of guns and bomb-making equipment before they will agree to return to the Stormont power-sharing Executive which was suspended last October amid allegations of a republican espionage plot.

Sinn Féin has also resisted pressure for tough sanctions to be installed which could see the party expelled from the Assembly if the Provisionals continue military operations. Republicans claim the plan is an attempt to humiliate them.

London and Dublin remain hopeful that the political impasse can be overcome, with British Government sources insisting most of the difficulties were hammered out during 30 hours of talks.

"The Prime Minister sees this as a breakthrough and it will turn out to be one if all the signs are fulfilled," one said. "It's just up to the parties to consult."

Ulster Unionists are also waiting for the IRA decommissioning move they stress must now take place.

"Sinn Féin have a very clear understanding of what's needed and we just have to sit tight," a party source said.

"There's very little we can do until we see the colour of their money. It's not exactly a luxurious position we are in, but any response from us and a deal being settled in April now hinges on two issues: weapons and sanctions. The pendulum has started to swing back in our direction."

Mr Blair's official spokesman characterised the negotiations as "two of the best days of talks we have had in the past five years".

He said the first stage of a three-stage process had now been completed. The next stage would be the publication of the two governments' proposals, which would then be followed by the assembly elections.

Mr Blair's spokesman said: It was a long but good day, rounding off what I think were two of the best days of talks we have had in the past five years. "The way to look at this is that if the Good Friday Agreement was the architect's plans for the future of Northern Ireland, last night was about putting down the foundations of the implementation of the agreement and April will be about building up the final building of Northern Ireland's future."