Ahern warns Blair not to expel Sinn Fein from Executive

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has warned British Prime Minister Tony Blair not to create an unnecessary crisis by caving in to unionist demands for Sinn Fein to be expelled from the power-sharing Executive.

Mr Blair is due to issue a statement on the state of the IRA ceasefire before the British Parliament rises for the summer next Wednesday.