The Rev Ian Paisley has told the British government to blame Sinn Féin for any delay in the restoration of powersharing at Stormont.
In a hard-hitting statement, Dr Paisley warned that no system of "nods, winks and half-measures" would suffice and republicans must "abandon the path of crime [ and] deliver support for policing and the rule of law and must be seen to be doing so".
His remarks follow a strident assertion by North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds that the British and Irish government deadline of March 26th for restoration is unrealistic.
Northern Secretary Peter Hain warned again that the parties had a choice between devolution, backed by Gordon Brown's investment package, or dissolution of Stormont.
Speaking during a Belfast City Council debate on the St Andrews Agreement, Mr Dodds said: "In my view [ the deadlines] are increasingly unrealistic because it's clear Sinn Féin aren't even prepared to make the first minimum move that needs to be done on policing.
"Remember we still have an IMC (Independent Monitoring Commission) report that has to deal with the whole issue of terrorist structures - the army council and all of that stuff. So what we will do is judge everything by the delivery and actions of the IRA and Sinn Féin - that will be the crucial issue, not dates set in a calendar by the government." The DUP and Sinn Féin refused to back a SDLP motion calling for support for the St Andrews Agreement.
This was followed yesterday by Dr Paisley's sternest words yet in which the party heaped blame for the current stand-off on republicans.
"The Secretary of State knows that it is Sinn Féin/IRA that now needs to fulfil its obligations and to fully support the police, the courts and the rule of law. No other party refuses to support the rule of law in Northern Ireland and the Secretary of State and the prime minister have a special responsibility to hold firm and ensure that Sinn Féin deliver," he said. He added that there can be no middle way on whether a party is exclusively peaceful and democratic, or whether they wish to "cling to terror and criminality".
"The DUP will not be budging on this issue and during the course of my meeting with the prime minister I indicated that now was the time for delivery from Sinn Féin. Democrats have nothing to prove and have no obligations to fulfil."
Dr Paisley warned: "Unionists will not be agreeing to any policing and justice powers being devolved to Stormont until such times as confidence in the community is established."
Tony Blair and Peter Hain needed to concentrate on Sinn Féin, he added.
"The message cannot be clearer, no up-front delivery means no deal."
He claimed unionists everywhere endorsed the DUP demand.
SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell accused the DUP of adopting a "couldn't care less" attitude to restoring devolution.
"It is deeply disappointing that neither the DUP nor Sinn Féin was able to back the motion the SDLP proposed at City Hall welcoming the St Andrews deal."
He added: "St Andrews paves the way for the DUP and Sinn Féin to live up to the Good Friday agreement. But if [this] is anything to go by, it's far from clear that either of these parties feels any urgency about moving."