‘Cut Ahern and Blair out of peace talks’

UNIONISTS and nationalists need to negotiate directly if the peace process is going to succeed, a leading unionist politician yesterday said.

David Ervine, of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), said it was time for the Irish and British governments to be cut from the negotiations. The PUP is regarded as the political wing of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), which was blamed for much of the violence seen in Belfast in recent nights.

“I think it is really time that we cut out the middle men, (Tony) Blair and (Bertie) Ahern, and get on with the negotiating process eyeball to eyeball with our republican counterparts,” Mr Ervine said. “Only then will we be taking true ownership of a process.”