The Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, has said that the issue of decommissioning was "settled" by Mr Tony Blair's speech in Belfast on Thursday night. The British Prime Minister had spelled out clearly the criteria for entry to the executive of the Northern Ireland assembly.
But Mr Mitchel McLaughlin of Sinn Fein said he did not believe the "goalposts had been moved" on the issue. The Belfast Agreement would stand.
He believed decommissioning would eventually take place. "People understand that it will, when it happens, and it will happen, be a voluntary process by those who presently control weapons."
Meanwhile the United Unionist No campaign launched a "declaration" against the Agreement. Mr Bob McCartney of the UK Unionist Party said that they would use their mandate in the assembly to work to prevent the transfer of powers to the North-South ministerial council.
Mr Trimble said it was time to focus on constitutional issues as Mr Blair's speech was "as clear and as precise as anyone could expect." There was no room for any doubt or "wriggling" on the issue of decommissioning, he said.
"Long before there will be any executive, over one-quarter of the total time-span for complete decommissioning will have passed. If within that time-span actual decommissioning has not occurred, then it will be impossible for anyone to say the paramilitary parties have co-operated fully as the Prime Minister's text makes clear. So this time there is no room for wriggling."
Mr Trimble said the focus should be on constitutional issues and that people were being "scared by emotional matters into voting No." This would be a vote for the Anglo-Irish Agreement, Dublin interference, constitutional instability and "the continued autocracy of Mo Mowlam and the others."
Mr McLaughlin said the terms of the agreement had not been changed by Mr Blair's speech, but he could not be sure that "good faith" would be shown when legislation giving effect to the agreement was introduced.
"He [Mr Blair] will not be permitted by us to shift the goalposts. We have engaged in this process on a good-faith basis. We have delivered."
Opening Sinn Fein's Yes campaign yesterday, Mr McLaughlin said Mr Blair should resist those trying to change the terms of the agreement. "Tony Blair is in the Yes campaign, and he knows the consequences of shifting the terms or the goalposts."
Mr McLaughlin said he was absolutely sure there would be no impediment to Sinn Fein being in cabinet if it got the necessary electoral support.
Responding to Mr McCartney's comments, he said that if nationalists did not get cross-Border bodies there would be no assembly. "It would be back to the drawing board for everyone," he added.
Mr McLaughlin said the decisions taken at Sunday's ardfheis were "a mighty step and an immeasurable contribution" to the search for a peace settlement. He said Sinn Fein would build on the positives, rather than being preoccupied by the negatives.
At a press conference in front of Belfast City Hall yesterday morning the No campaign leaders, the Rev Ian Paisley and Mr Bob McCartney, read aloud "a declaration and pledge of the united unionists" against the Belfast Agreement.
Supporters can purchase a copy of the declaration, printed on hard cardboard, for £1. It pledges to ensure, by every lawful means, the rejection of the Agreement.
Dr Paisley dismissed Mr Trimble's view that the decommissioning issue was settled, saying the UUP leader had given similar assurances before Sinn Fein were admitted to talks.
Mr McCartney said people would be voting on the agreement and not on "promised legislation", and it could not be altered.
The UK Unionist Party leader also indicated the course of action anti-agreement unionists would take in the assembly.
"If returned in huge numbers, we will work the arrangements to deliver the mandate of the proUnion people. And that mandate will be to say that we do not intend to give any functions or powers to a North-South ministerial council or to fulfil any remit for all-island implementation bodies."
The signing of the declaration was interrupted by Mr Hugh Smyth of the Progressive Unionist Party, who shouted at Dr Paisley and Mr McCartney: "When are you going to say Yes to anything?"
The SDLP has welcomed the results of yesterday's Irish Times opinion poll, as support for the agreement among party supporters stood at 93 per cent.