NI talks reach 'moment of decision': Blair

British Prime Tony Blair arrived today for critical Northern Ireland peace talks and declared: “This really is the moment of decision for us.”

Mr Blair and the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern are set for an intense three days of negotiations at Leeds Castle, Kent, with all the political parties, in a bid to break the deadlock and restore the power-sharing regime at Stormont.

As the two premiers headed in to chair the meetings, Mr Blair insisted there could be no further delays on getting a deal that would see an end to IRA violence and stabilise the political institutions.

He said: “We have therefore to be very sure about an end to paramilitarism of whatever kind and that we are in a position to take this forward on the basis of all parts of the community in Northern Ireland share power together in the interests of the people of Northern Ireland.”

With Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists and Sinn Féin central to the chances of success, Mr Blair challenged them to show what they were made of.

He said: “It will be a test for the political leadership and political will and a test of whether we are prepared to listen in a profound way to the yearning of the people of Northern Ireland for a peace that isn’t haphazard and random, that isn’t partial and is complete and lasting.”