Blair and Ahern cannot feign progress - Adams

The political process will be in serious trouble unless British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern take decisive…

The political process will be in serious trouble unless British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern take decisive action during talks in Belfast next week, it was claimed today.

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams called on the British and Irish leaders not to pretend progress has been made in recent weeks. Speaking in Dublin, Mr Adams said no political party should be allowed to block or delay progress.

He also said the atmosphere at the crunch discussions on Thursday will be affected by the outcome of today's Orange Order parade.

Mr Adams also told a meeting of party activists he was setting up a review process within the party regarding Sinn Fein's involvement in the Hain Assembly.

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"We are coming to the end of the six week sit in of the Hain Assembly and we need to recognise that no progress has been made," he said.

"The DUP has shown no interest in sharing power and has been allowed by the two governments to prevent progress being made."

Mr Adams said the next phase of the process will be defined by what both premiers say and do. He continued: "If there is to be any possibility of power sharing institutions being restored in the coming months there is a need for them to take decisive action.

"There is no point in them coming to Belfast to give their parties a pep talk or to pretend that progress has been made in recent weeks."

PA