The Democratic Unionist Party today embarked on a fresh effort to persuade other Northern Ireland parties to freeze Sinn Féin out of a future devolved government.
Dr Ian Paisley's party arranged a lunchtime meeting with the SDLP and the Alliance Party at Stormont as pressure mounted for Sinn Féin's expulsion from the review of the Belfast Agreement.
Ulster Unionist Party leader Mr David Trimble has threatened to walk out of the review if sanctions are not imposed on Sinn Féin over the alleged abduction attempt 10 days ago of dissident republican Mr Bobby Tohill from a Belfast city centre bar.
Northern Ireland police chief Mr Hugh Orde blamed the incident on the Provisional IRA, but the only action taken by the two Governments so far has been to ask the four member independent commission monitoring the ceasefires to bring forward its first report.
Despite Mr Trimble's threat to quit the talks, the DUP has insisted it will remain and continue its policy of avoiding face to face dialogue with Sinn Féin.
DUP deputy leader Mr Peter Robinson said last week the party would focus on setting up a system of devolved government which excluded Sinn Féin.
A party spokesman described today's meeting with the SDLP and Alliance as "highly significant". He said it was one the DUP has been "trying to arrange for some time".
Under one of three models the party has proposed for devolution, the DUP could form a voluntary coalition with the SDLP and Alliance that would be similar to the executive in Scotland.
The Alliance Party has supported the idea, but Mr Mark Durkan's SDLP and Sinn Féin have opposed it.
Nationalists want the same form of devolution that operated in Northern Ireland before the suspension of the Agreement, under which ministerial portfolios were shared among the DUP, Ulster Unionists and Sinn Féin.
PA