Dissident republicans send defiant message to Adams

Dissident republicans sent a defiant message to Gerry Adams as he met Tony Blair at Downing Street.

An abusive message directed at Mr Adams was found on a bomb in an attempted attack on Ebrington Barracks in Derry.

RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan blamed the mortar on dissident republicans.

He said it would have caused "multiple murder" had it gone off.

Sinn Fein sources at the talks said discussions were "inching forward" in the search for an agreement which would rescue the peace process by resolving problems on decommissioning, demilitarisation and policing.

However their assessment was in contrast to Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, who emerged from his discussions with Mr Blair in downbeat mood.

He accused the republican movement of "prevaricating" and said its position on decommissioning was "unsatisfactory".

The past week has seen four attacks by dissident republicans on the security forces.