Adams to urge SF to join Policing Board

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said today that he will urge his party to join the North's Policing Board at a meeting on May 12, following the restoration of the Northern Executive.

The announcement came following his party's first meeting with the leadership of the Policing Board today.

"I have to go to an ard chomhairle meeting post-May 8, and it is my firm intention when we have an ard chomhairle meeting on May 12 to make a proposal that we take up our positions on the Policing Board," he said.

"I have given notice to the ard chomhairle of that intention and that's all in the expectation and very firm conviction that on May 8 we will see the institutions here reconstituted and the Executive in place."

He also called on loyalists to withdraw threats against republicans.

"I want to deal briefly with the issue of a number of citizens having been warned that they are actively under threat from, I believe, the Ulster Volunteer Force - although I cannot say that authoritatively," he said.

"That is what I believe to be the organisation behind that threat.

"It is totally unacceptable and we look to the threat being withdrawn and to be withdrawn in a very, very public manner as quickly as possible."

Republicans in Derry and North Antrim have, in recent days, been warned of a security risk of attack from loyalists.

The Sinn Féin leader described the meeting with Policing Board chairman Desmond Rea and vice chairman Barry Gilligan as another important step in his party's quest for accountable and effective policing on both sides of the Irish border.

The West Belfast MP would not be drawn on who his party's three nominees for the Policing Board would be.