Assembly elections may be held in May

THE Irish and British Governments are hoping to agree a definite way forward with the Northern Ireland parties within weeks.

The governments hope to have a deal in place by mid-March to allow Northern Ireland Assembly elections to proceed in May.

The Taoiseach and British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be meeting in London in the next fortnight to

measure progress in the process.

In a fresh attempt to resolve some of the outstanding issues in Northern Ireland's political process, Mr Ahern and Mr Blair held talks with pro-Agreement parties yesterday.

The two governments and the Northern Ireland parties are to hold further intensive discussions on

March 3.

The discussions are part of continuing efforts to restore the power-sharing government. Sinn Féin has called on the British Government to act first on their demands for demilitarisation and the strengthening of policing reforms. Mr Ahern and Mr Blair held an hour-long summit before meeting the main political parties for intensive talks as efforts continue to break the deadlocked process.

After the talks, Mr Ahern said there had been a useful and constructive

series of meetings.

"Four months ago, the prime minister set out his speech on acts of completion, which I supported two days later. What we are engaged in is trying to bring full and faithful completion to the Good Friday Agreement there are many aspects we still have to deal with.

"It is now for us to build on today's discussions. We went over the propositions, we listened to the viewpoints and from tomorrow we will try and work on and see if we can bring these matters to a conclusion."

According to Mr Blair, the governments had tried to agree how to proceed over the next few weeks.

"We have set aside a time on March 3, by which time after the discussions we've had we hope we will be in a position to have a way forward agreed with the parties. We are determined to try and make that progress and make it as quickly as possible," he said.

Northern Secretary of State Paul Murphy said intensive negotiations would begin to see what the IRA must do before the next set of talks between the Irish and British governments take place. Following their meeting, Sinn Féin's Mitchel McLaughlin said he was frustrated that the party had not seen enough detailed response to their concerns or an assurance that the Assembly election would go ahead in May.

But Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said paramilitaries needed to deliver their part of the bargain.

"We do have to get to the final chapter and we do have to be sure that paramilitarism is going to be dealt with. The instability in the process over the last four and a half years has been an instability created by the activities of paramilitaries and by doubt and uncertainty as to the future position of paramilitaries," Mr Trimble said.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said the meeting had covered familiar ground.

"I believe it is still worth the effort I don't think we need a lot of time in which to deal with these things, but we do need a lot more effort," Mr Durkan said. In Belfast, Mr Blair also announced a £3 million initiative to help develop political dialogue in both communities in Northern Ireland.

Referring to the loyalist feud in the UDA, he said it was important that loyalism finds "a proper and true political voice" and that he hoped the

government would be able to help.

"Loyalism does also face a choice a choice between trying to pursue a political path or a descent into gangsterism and criminality that does nothing at all for the reputation of anyone," he said. Mr Blair and Mr Ahern are expected to press Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams for a major move on IRA weapons decommissioning and either a statement that the war is over or one that the terrorist organisation was standing down.

In return, the British Government would offer a reduction in the military presence in Northern Ireland and the removal of more army watchtowers in republican areas.