Intensive behind-the-scenes negotiations will continue today between unionist politicians, the British government and the talks chairman, Senator George Mitchell, in an attempt to bring the Ulster Unionist Party and the fringe loyalists into the Stormont negotiations.
Unionist parties boycotted the talks which opened in Belfast yesterday, but the UUP and the fringe loyalists remain eager to stay in the process. However, there is still substantial disagreement over decommissioning, the talks agenda and procedural matters.
UUP sources said they would be in regular contact with the British government and Senator Mitchell in an attempt to resolve the difficulties.
The UUP leadership will meet again this morning at party headquarters in Glengall Street to discuss strategy. While it is still possible the party might enter Stormont Castle in the afternoon, the possibility of direct negotiations with Sinn Fein seems unlikely over coming days.
The UUP, the Progressive Unionist Party and the Ulster Democratic Party held separate meetings with Senator Mitchell last night.
While some progress was made, substantial difficulties were not overcome. Senator Mitchell described the meetings as "good and productive".
"We are going to do all we can to continue to make progress as rapidly as possible. Obviously, if there were no stumbling blocks, we would all be there right now, discussing important issues. But I am impressed that all the participants are acting in a constructive and responsible way and trying very hard to move this process forward," he said.
The UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, refused to comment after the meeting. However, a party member said there was still disagreement over decommissioning, the talks agenda and procedural matters. "The government is hoping that we can park the decommissioning issue and come back to it and we are hoping to explore ways of doing this," he said.
Another leading UUP figure said there was a "50-50 chance" of his party going to Stormont this afternoon if progress was made. The fringe loyalist parties are both understood to be eager to join all-party talks. However, they are waiting to follow the UUP's lead. If they took part in direct negotiations with republicans without the Ulster Unionists participating they would risk isolation within the unionist community.
The PUP leader, Mr David Ervine, held discussions with his party last night. He described his meeting with Senator Mitchell as "positive" but said it would too early to predict an outcome.