THE multi party talks will resume at Stormont today under the chairmanship of former Senator George Mitchell as controversy continues over the British government statement issued last week on the conditions for Sinn Fein's participation.
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, asserted that it was still possible to create the conditions for an unequivocal IRA ceasefire before Christmas, and said he would be going back to the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, to inform him of the response of the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, to the British document.
Uncertainty about an IRA ceasefire persisted, as some reports suggested that the terms outlined in the document were open to flexible interpretation, depending on how definitive a renewed IRA cessation might be.
A further complicating factor was the discovery of a massive home made bomb on a flat bed trailer in south Armagh last week. The device, which police said contained almost 2,500 lbs of explosive material in an advanced state of readiness for detonation, was finally neutralised by British army bomb experts on Saturday.
Mr Mitchell was returning to the North last night from the US where he celebrated Thanksgiving. He will be back in the chair at the talks this morning, in spite of reports that he could figure in President Clinton's announcement this week of senior appointments to his administration.
Little progress is expected at the talks in advance of the planned meeting between the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, and Mr Major, on December 9th.
The Northern Minister for Political Development, Mr Michael Ancram, repeated yesterday that his government wished to see a "credible" and "dependable" restoration of the IRA ceasefire.
The timescale for Sinn Fein's entry to the talks after a ceasefire would depend on "how the words and the actions come together".
While clarification of aspects of the statement is to be sought by Mr Hume and the Government, there were reports that the British Prime Minister had made further comments in a covering letter, not yet published, which he sent to Mr Hume along with the statement.
Mr Major was said to have told Mr Hume that the intelligence information available to him on the IRA's ongoing activity and future intentions did not indicate any readiness to guarantee a permanent ceasefire.