Ahern and Blair 'have two days to strike talks deals'

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern were today preparing for a fresh push to prevent the collapse of the Good Friday Agreement.

The two leaders were due to hold talks in a secluded talks venue at Weston Park, Shropshire, with the Northern Ireland pro-Agreement parties.

They will attempt to break the deadlock over decommissioning, policing, demilitarisation and the operation of the political institutions.

The parties are trying to avert the most serious crisis yet in the process following the resignation of Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble as First Minister.

Mr Trimble stood down on July 1 over the IRA’s failure to disarm.

The parties and two Governments have five weeks to reach agreement before Mr Trimble seeks re-election in the Assembly to the post of First Minister - a move which will require the support of more than 50% of unionist MLAs and more than 50% of nationalists.

Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon, of the nationalist SDLP, whose office is interlinked, will also have to be re-elected.

Failure to elect First and Deputy First Ministers would result in fresh Assembly elections.

However, Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid could suspend the institutions before the vote in a bid to buy more time.

It is believed that officials in London and Dublin do not want to follow that course of action.

And while they breathed a sigh of relief following the peaceful passing of yesterday’s Orange Order march at Drumcree, talks sources stressed the need to strike a deal by as early as Tuesday.

One source claims: ‘‘Everybody knows the issues involved and what needs to be done. The question is: is a deal do-able this week?

‘‘Hopefully the talks venue will provide the right atmosphere for progress on the four issues and certainly, the passing of the Drumcree parade without incident is a great help.

‘‘But really, we need to crack these issues by Tuesday. If not, then I think the Governments are going to have to decide what their next course of action will be at the end of the week.’’

Unionists heading to Shropshire repeated their demands for movement by republicans on disarmament if they are to share power again with Sinn Fein.

Before he set off for the talks, hardline anti-Agreement Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson was sceptical about the IRA’s intentions.

‘‘It remains to be seen whether republicans are going to live up to their responsibilities on decommissioning after three years of delay.

‘‘They know what they have to do but are they prepared to do it?’’

Sinn Fein MP Michelle Gildernew insisted the onus was on the British Government to move the peace process forward by honouring its commitments on police reform and the scaling down of Army bases and operations.

In a reference to Ulster Unionists’ ban on Sinn Fein ministers attending cross-border body meetings, the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP added: ‘‘They need to not just implement the Agreement but make sure that others live up to their commitments under the Good Friday Agreement also.’’