A statement said: We are acutely aware that there are many people out there hurting as a result of

A statement said: “We are acutely aware that there are many people out there hurting as a result of prisoner releases. Well over half the prisoners have been released and still not a single bullet or ounce of Semtex has been handed over.”We believe that the paramilitaries have failed to realise the extent of public feeling over this matter and they have totally failed to respond.”. Accusing him of “being in the pocket of Tony Blair”, he claimed the Ulster Unionist leader would accept any form of words on IRA arms that was acceptable to the British Prime Minister. Some sources suggest this may go further than expressing the hope that various army bases would be closed if the major ceasefires hold.Absolutely none of this is settled and all of it is dependent on a willingness by both sides to move from their stated positions.The Rev Ian Paisley continued to predict that David Trimble would shift his position.

Central among these is the concept of mutual guarantees being swopped between the loyalists and republicans, with a clear choreography of steps to be undertaken in the coming months.These could be witnessedand underwritten by the British and Irish governments, the US and by David Trimble’s deputy as first minister designate, Seamus Mallon of the SDLP.The IRA would be expected to provide a statement pledging commitment to the peace process and conveying a sense that it regards armed conflict as a thing of the past.Another element in the equation may be a document, which is due to be published by the Government, on the “normalisation” of security force activity. Many of yesterday’s meetings were said to have had a positive tone, though in public the protagonists were unprepared to budge from their familiar positions.Sources close to the negotiations say that if an accommodation is reached, it will probably happen on the basis of an agreed package consisting of a number of elements. PRESIDENT NELSON Mandela yesterday telephoned Belfast to express solidarity with the politicians – British, Irish nationalist and Ulster Unionist – who are engaged in a last-ditch attempt to break the deadlock in the peace process. The manifestation of international goodwill came as Tony Blair and the Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, arrived in Belfast to join local politicians who were already immersed in a heavy schedule of meetings.
These included two encounters between the Ulster Unionists and Sinn Fein, who are regarded as the key elements in finding a way through the decommissioning impasse.

Today is expected to bring an even more intensive round of talks.With no clear formula yet in sight to solve the conundrum, opinion remains divided on the outcome of the talks. To assemble the number of troops required would take about two months, “assuming you could find enough troops that are fit and ready to go into battle”.The British Army already has 4,800 troops in Macedonia and a total of 8,500 ready to be deployed on a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. This brings the total of British soldiers either preparing for operations, on operations or recently returned from operations to 41 per cent of the total. This, said Mr Robertson, was the highest figure ever in peace time.

He also conceded that the Nato attacks may have made the situation worse. “But if it has made it worse, it has made it worse for a temporary period before it gets better.”Deploying ground troops effectively to invade Yugoslavia “was not a sensible option”, he said. “This is not going to be quick and it’s not going to be easy.”Operation Allied Force moved to Phase II over the weekend, allowing the direct targeting of Serb ground troops in Kosovo.Mr Robertson admitted this had been done earlier than planned because of the unfolding humanitarian crisis. “We are saying to them `we are watching, we know what you are doing, we know who is doing it, and that information is going to The Hague’,” said Mr Robertson.The Secretary of State for Defence, who also addressed ground crew at Gioia del Colle, said the tempo of operations would increase.But he gave a warning that the danger to pilots would also intensify.”Risks are very high, of course They are obviously increasing all the time But these are very brave people,” said Mr Robertson.