Blair must force decommissioning - UUP

A senior Ulster Unionist has said that the continuation of the Good Friday Agreement is at the eleventh hour.

Speaking as his party's delegation left for talks with both governments at 10 Downing St this afternoon, Michael McGimpsey said there was enormous responsibility on Tony Blair to use his influence to force the IRA to decommission.

Otherwise, Sinn Fein will have to be excluded from the process, he said.

Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern can no longer sit back and be spectators or the process will not survive for much longer, he added. Meanwhile, Sin Fein President Gerry Adams said Mr Blair must ensure that the Agreement is fully implemented.

He said the British government had created the fault line which left the Agreement vulnerable and must now deliver change.