Ahern - Alliance move will save peace process

The Taoiseach has said he believes the decision by the Alliance Party to redesignate as unionist in order to re-elect David Trimble, will safeguard the peace process.

Speaking at the annual Wolfe Tone commemoration in Bodenstown, Co Kildare, Bertie Ahern also said he hopes people will stop playing games with the Northern Executive and real progress can be made.

Mr Ahern condemned last night's car bomb in Birmingham, and warned that fundamentalists are trying to take over politics in Ireland and around the world.

He said dissident republicans should listen to the will of the people and abandon their campaign of terror.