Violence threatens to hijack talks

WITH the British and Irish governments set to hold a new round of talks with pro-Good Friday agreement parties, in a bid to break the logjam in the North, there has seldom been a greater need to kick-start the political process and to regain the high ground before it is hijacked by dissident elements.

There have been recent ominous reminders that the men of violence have not gone away.

In the days and hours since British Prime Minister Tony Blair took the regrettable decision to postpone the May 29 Assembly elections, they have returned to practising their deadly trade on the streets of Dublin and Belfast.