Sinn Féin the immovable object over decommissioning

ANY hopes of a major breakthrough in the peace process were dashed even before the talks began.

Despite the momentum of the visit of US President George Bush earlier this week, the whole process was derailed yesterday morning after Sinn Féin refused to budge.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair were due to announce a formula for restoring the powersharing executive in Belfast. They also hoped to bring about an IRA declaration of an end to its campaign of paramilitarism.