Mr Gerry Adams has said that while he disagrees with the British Prime Minister on fundamental issues, he believes Mr Blair is "on the side of those who want change" in Northern Ireland.
The Sinn Fein president was addressing about 800 republicans at a rally in the Europa Hotel in Belfast last night. Mr Adams delivered the main address. A question-and-answer session followed his speech. The audience appeared to be divided on the merits of the peace process, but no substantial opposition was shown to Sinn Fein leaders.
Mr Adams said that while he disagreed with Mr Blair on the future of the Union, the British Prime Minister was "well disposed" towards the peace process. His instinct was against "discrimination, inequality and military occupation" and he was "on the side of those who want change"
He criticised unionist attitudes to the Stormont negotiations, saying the Ulster Unionists viewed the peace process as "war by other means". He said they needed to abandon their negative mindset and attempt to reach an accommodation with nationalists.
He said it was a welcome development that the Ulster Unionist Party was engaged in dialogue with the SDLP and the government. However, he added, "a peace process without Sinn Fein is not worth one penny candle".
Also on the platform were the Sinn Fein MP, Mr Martin McGuinness, a member of the party talks team, Mr Francie Molloy, and the veteran republican, Mr Joe Cahill. Most speakers expressed concern about the pace of the peace process, but there was no substantial criticism of the leadership.
There were sharp divisions when one man voiced opposition to the peace process and Mr Adams's strategy. The man, who is a former People's Democracy activist and not a Sinn Fein member, said the Stormont talks would never lead to a British withdrawal and would make "Irish unity a dirty word for ever".
He said that Sinn Fein should have nothing to do with the SDLP or Fianna Fail, which were partitionist parties. He criticised Mr Adams for praising Mr Blair, who had no record of challenging discrimination and was "one of the most right-wing British prime ministers ever elected". Another speaker said there had been no defections in south Armagh but even if 35 people had left they would be replaced by 350.