The Democratic Unionists will walk away from a deal to revive power sharing if it falls short of what unionists need, the Reverend Ian Paisley has warned his party.
As Northern Ireland's talks to revive power sharing remained delicately balanced, the DUP leader told colleagues at a dinner last night in North Antrim if the deal was to work it must include the transparent destruction of IRA weapons.
The North Antrim MP insisted: "I will not be bounced into any quick deal that is wrong.
"I am willing to consider urgently the right deal at the right time.
"I would like to be in a position to say yes but if it is not a fair deal, I will be rejecting it in your name (the DUP) and in the name of the people of Northern Ireland."
Sinn Fein and the DUP are the only parties to have seen proposals from the British and Irish governments for resurrecting the Assembly and IRA disarmament.
It is believed both parties will have until Tuesday to seal a deal, with British Prime Minister Mr Blair and the Taoiseach Mr Ahern considering publishing their blueprint in the event of no agreement.
Northern Ireland's Assembly was suspended in October 2002 when unionists threatened to collapse the power sharing executive over IRA activity. There have been two failed attempts to revive devolution involving Sinn Fein and the Ulster Unionists.
Last year, the DUP overtook the UUP as the largest party in their community and in the Northern Ireland Assembly during Stormont elections. The party has insisted it will only share power with Sinn Fein if it puts all its weapons beyond use and becomes, in the Rev Paisley's words, an old boy's association ending all paramilitary and criminal activity.
Talks sources believe the DUP and Sinn Fein are agonisingly close to a deal.
However the DUP feels an IRA agreement to photographic evidence of future disarmament is crucial to them signing up to a deal.
Sinn Fein negotiators insist the DUP needs to make it clear to them that they are willing to share power with republicans and will operate the political institutions at Stormont in good faith.
US President George W Bush telephoned the DUP on Friday, offering to help both parties strike a deal and is expected to contact Sinn Fein leader Mr Gerry Adams.
The Rev Paisley and his negotiating team have also lined up a meeting with the head of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, General John de Chastelain who has witnessed three acts of IRA disarmament so far.
PA