'Monitoring body proposal may be watered down'

The SDLP has expressed concern that the British government might water down its proposal to establish a monitoring body to ensure all Northern political parties and paramilitaries honour their commitments under the Good Friday Agreement.

The establishment of the International Monitoring Commission was part of the recent Irish-British declaration on implementing the 1998 agreement.

The Government, the British government, the US Administration and the Northern Assembly would each appoint one person to the proposed body.

Unionists have expressed opposition to the move, claiming it gives the Dublin Government an unacceptable say in the workings of the North.

This has led to reports that the British government might seek to relegate the Dublin-appointed representative to a minor role in a toothless sub-committee.