Peace talks fail to break deadlock

A day of intensive round table talks at Downing Street has failed to break the deadlock in the Northern Ireland peace process.

But all parties involved in the discussions were upbeat about the progress that had been made.

Emerging from the talks, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble hailed the "useful exchanges" that had taken place.

Attending the discussions were Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, Richard Haass - special adviser on Northern Ireland to US President George W Bush - and a Sinn Fein delegation headed by Gerry Adams.

Mr Trimble said: "There has been useful work done. The work will continue and I hope there will eventually be a successful outcome to this, but that's not just here yet."

He added: "We need to see that there is going to be de-commissioning of weapons, an end of paramilitary activity, people being fully committed to working with the institutions in the spirit of the (Good Friday) Agreement and we haven't quite got all of that yet.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, Mid Ulster MP Martin McGuinness and former Belfast Lord Mayor Alex Maskey, emerged confident Assembly elections would take place soon.

But unionists took heart from Mr Adams' comment that his party wanted to ensure the poll took place in the best atmosphere.

"As far as we are concerned we are taking it that the elections are going to go ahead anyway," the West Belfast MP said.

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