SDLP rows with SF over ‘diluted’ Good Friday Agreement

SINN FÉIN and the SDLP have become involved in a bitter row over a claimed dilution of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) ahead of the key meeting between Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair tomorrow.

The Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister will meet in London to review the response of Sinn Féin and the DUP to the blueprint document for progress, presented by both governments. Mr Ahern will also hold a meeting with DUP leader Ian Paisley before he meets Mr Blair.

Yesterday, SDLP leader Mark Durkan held talks with the Taoiseach in Dublin and also briefed Fine Gael and the Labour Party on its reading of the situation. Unlike the DUP and Sinn Féin, the SDLP has not seen the full document and has criticised both governments for excluding the party.