The SDLP leader has said he is hopeful that the policing issue will be resolved by the end of June. Mr John Hume said considerable progress was made at last week's round-table talks in Hillsborough Castle involving the two governments and the pro-Agreement parties.
Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster, he said it was important to set up a police force which commanded the loyalty and support of both sections of the community in the North.
"We have made substantial progress in that direction. We look forward to that progress being finalised," he added.
Meanwhile, anti-Agreement Ulster Unionist MP Mr Willie Ross has demanded an end to the scaling down of security in the North until the Provisional IRA has begun decommissioning. "We are still waiting for the IRA to make even a gesture on decommissioning. Last week, we heard the IRA had been in contact once again with Gen John de Chastelain but we have been there before.
"We must remember that Gen de Chastelain's mandate expires in June and he is already on record as saying he believes the process of decommissioning will take a minimum of three months to complete.
"The strictest possible security measures must remain in place until republicans produce actual progress. Any other course of action would be both foolish and irresponsible," he said.
DUP Assembly member Mr Sammy Wilson said it was disgraceful that the British government was even considering further demilitarisation measures. He said the public could have no faith in the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, given his past and continuing support for the agreement.
"He and his party urged the electorate to support a deal which even a blind man could have seen was full of loopholes and underwritten by a Prime Minister whose promises are as false as his smile."