'Get tough on Republicans,' Hain told

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain must get tough with republicans and insist on the winding down of the IRA, he was told tonight.

As Mr Hain met Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness in Belfast for the first time since taking over at Stormont, senior Ulster Unionist Sir Reg Empey urged the minister to avoid becoming embroiled in a new set of negotiations with republicans on ending criminal and paramilitary activity.