DUP meet SDLP, Alliance Party to isolate Sinn Féin

THE Democratic Unionists yesterday embarked on a fresh effort to persuade other parties in the North to freeze Sinn Féin out of a future devolved government.

Ian Paisley's party arranged a lunchtime meeting with the nationalist SDLP and the cross-community Alliance Party at Stormont as pressure mounted for Sinn Féin's expulsion from the review of the Good Friday Agreement.

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has threatened to walk out if sanctions are not imposed on Sinn Féin over the attempted abduction 10 days ago of dissident republican Bobby Tohill in Belfast.

Northern Ireland police chief Hugh Orde blamed the incident on the IRA but so far the only action by the British and Irish Governments has been to ask the independent commission monitoring the ceasefires to fast-track its first report.

However, the DUP insisted it will remain in talks, and continue its policy of avoiding face-to-face dialogue with Sinn Féin.

DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said last week the party would focus on setting up a system of devolved government which excluded Sinn Féin.

A party spokesman described yesterday's trilateral meeting as "highly significant. It is a meeting we have been trying to arrange for some time".

Under one of three models the party has proposed for devolution, the DUP could form a voluntary coalition with the SDLP and Alliance, similar to the executive in Scotland.

The Alliance Party support the idea, but Mark Durkan's nationalist SDLP and Sinn Féin oppose it.

Nationalists want the same form of devolution which operated in Northern Ireland before the suspension of the Agreement, which would mean it would share ministerial portfolios with the DUP, Ulster Unionists and Sinn Fein.

In its 'Devolution Now' document, the DUP said it would only countenance this type of power-sharing if republicans engage in acts of completion, including total disarmament of the IRA.

The DUP also proposed an Assembly-based system for devolution which would see all 108 MLAs administering power, with Stormont committees taking charge of government departments.