The US special envoy to Ireland, Mr Richard Haass, has said the holding of Assembly elections in the North now would not move the peace process on.
Claiming the process was facing a problem rather than a crisis, he said that what was being asked of the republican movement was "quite small compared to what it has already agreed to".
Legislation to put off the elections is expected next week at Westminster. In the meantime some unionist candidates handed in their nomination papers and deposits claiming that officially, the campaign was still on for an election on May 29th.
The Democratic Unionist deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, said: "The Parliament of the United Kingdom, not the prime minister, takes decisions as to whether the election will proceed."
At a press conference yesterday, the Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, said it was obvious from Mr Ahern's remarks that he did not agree with the suspension of the elections and that the British government was calling the shots in the process.
"It wasn't David Trimble who cancelled the election. He didn't take the decision. It was taken by Mr Blair and he disregarded the wishes of everyone else."
The SDLP yesterday welcomed publication of the joint statement, describing it as "a major step forward to the full implementation of the Good Friday agreement".
Mr Mark Durkan, the party leader, urged the two governments to push ahead with plans to implement their joint statement "whether or not there are acts of completion by the IRA or unionist participation in the institutions".
He continued: "Neither the IRA nor the UUP should have a veto on change nor should either be used as an excuse to delay change." Mr Durkan called for the repeal of the legislation which enables suspension of devolution and the transfer of justice powers to Stormont within two years.
He claimed credit for what he called "far-reaching reforms" to criminal justice legislation and that these would be published shortly. He also said his party "led the way" in discussions about a Bill of Rights.
The joint statement has been criticised by the anti-agreement wing of the Ulster Unionist Party.
The Lagan Valley MP, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, dismissed it as "a Sinn Féin charter". He continued: "You read through the declaration and it's concession after concession to the republican movement. There is absolutely no way that the Ulster Unionist Council will endorse this joint declaration."
Mr Trimble said aspects of the joint declaration were "more positive" but any attempt to legislate at Westminster to facilitate the return to Northern Ireland of on-the-runs would be contested.
Last night US Senator Ted Kennedy said he regretted the decision to postpone the elections. "In the recent negotiations, the IRA had responded to every reasonable request to clarify its commitment to end its support for violence. The unionists cannot forever have a veto on the peace process."