SDLP demands answers over 'spy' scandal

The British government must spell out its reasons for putting an exclusion motion against Sinn Fein ministers before the Northern Ireland Assembly if it decides to go down that route to save the peace process, Stormont Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan said today.

As the nationalist SDLP prepared today for crucial talks with the Tony Blair, their leader insisted the British government had many questions to answer about its handling of allegations against republicans which were now threatening to topple the Good Friday agreement.