The SDLP has indicated that there could be movement on its outstanding concerns over police reform by the British government. The party's deputy leader, Mr Seamus Mallon, said he was awaiting a response to party proposals on the issue from the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair.
Speaking on BBC's On the Re- cord, Mr Mallon said the SDLP wanted police reform to work. When the party received a reply from Mr Blair and the Northern Secretary, Mr Mandelson, it would "know how seriously they are taking the reality".
There were "matters of great substance" which needed to be resolved before his party would support the reforms, in particular the name and emblems of the new police service, he added, as they were crucial to whether young nationalists would consider joining up.
The SDLP deputy leader dismissed suggestions that his party could take its seats on the Police Board for a trial period to see if outstanding issues could be resolved.
A senior SDLP negotiator, Mr Alban Maginness, said the party was also seeking reassurances on the future of the Special Branch and the full and part-time Reserve, and independent inquiries into the deaths of Ms Rosemary Nelson, Mr Pat Finucane and Mr Robert Hamill.
The Sinn Fein MLA, Mr Gerry Kelly, last night insisted that "significant difficulties" remained in the way to setting up the new police force. In particular, he pointed to the powers of the Northern Secretary and the Chief Constable over the Ombudsman and the Police Board, which at this stage did not provide for "democratic and accountable control".
Meanwhile the UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, has told members of his party's East Derry Association that the new US administration is unlikely to take the same interest in Northern Ireland's affairs as the previous one.
He was, however, hopeful that US Republican Party would continue to bolster the peace process with economic aid, he added.
The RUC Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, has said the first sign of genuine IRA decommissioning would trigger moves to scale down security levels. Even a simple announcement of what steps it would take to put its arms beyond use would be rewarded, he told On the Record.