Blair calls Trimble in effort to end impasse

The British Prime Minister has spoken by telephone to the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, in another attempt to end…

The British Prime Minister has spoken by telephone to the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, in another attempt to end the current political impasse.

A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Blair might also be in contact with other politicians over the coming days.

"He is speaking to people to try to move forward on the North-South implementation bodies which he feels we have to do soon," the spokesman said.

Asked if Mr Blair had plans to visit the North this week, he said: "The diary is pretty difficult but he would go if it was felt it was helpful."

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There was no sign of a breakthrough after talks yesterday between Mr Trimble and the North's Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon.

Mr Mallon said it was essential that the new government departments and cross-Border bodies were agreed this week. There had been "serious and meaningful discussion" and every effort was being made to achieve progress, he said.

It was up to Sinn Fein and the Ulster Unionists to end the deadlock. Sinn Fein and the UUP in equal measure. Neither can walk away from their duty to the people of Northern Ireland in either practice or spirit."

A spokesman for Mr Trimble said he was keen to play down any suggestion of a crisis. "The First Minister is satisfied that progress is being made in the negotiations.

"He still believes that the real failure with regard to the implementation of the agreement is not the present difficulties regarding structures but rather the refusal of the paramilitaries to commence the process of credible and verifiable disarmament."

However Mr Martin McGuinness, the Sinn Fein MP for Mid-Ulster, said the onus to move forward lay with the UUP. "There is already understandable frustration among many republicans that the fundamental political, institutional and constitutional changes promised in the Good Friday Agreement have not yet happened."

A delegation from the Ulster Democratic Party, the UDA's political wing, yesterday held talks with the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, at Stormont.

Afterwards the UDP leader, Mr Gary McMichael, said that the unionist community had little faith in the bona fides of republicans. "Regardless of whether guns are given up or not, people don't believe that they will never be used again. Republicans must win the confidence of the unionist community."