The Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, has invited unionist and nationalist politicians to urgent talks at Stormont on Monday to discuss the deepening political and security crisis.
Dr Mowlam made the announcement as British soldiers prepared to return to the streets of Belfast on daytime patrols in support of the RUC. The soldiers were withdrawn six weeks ago as a confidence-building measure to strengthen the peace process.
Two Catholics have been killed in separate sectarian attacks since the murder of Billy Wright, the Loyalist Volunteer Force leader, last weekend.
The RUC Chief Constable, Mr Ronnie Flanagan, yesterday met Dr Mowlam to discuss the security situation. He said that police patrols had already been increased to meet the growing threat, but admitted that more killings could not be ruled out. "I can't say at this stage there is no risk of further attack."
An SDLP councillor in north Belfast, Mr Martin Morgan, said that Catholics were living in fear of their lives. "People are resigned to the fact that, because of their religion, the street in which they live and the pub they visit, they may die at the hands of loyalists. Catholics are nervous. They are looking over their shoulders."
Loyalist politicians yesterday expressed concern following a telephone warning, from a man claiming to represent the Catholic Reaction Force, that retaliation would be taken for attacks on nationalists. Loyalists believe that the CRF is a covername for the INLA.
Yesterday, a caller claiming to represent the INLA said that the organisation was responsible for a gun attack on the home of a Protestant family in Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh, on Thursday night. However, the man did not use a recognised codeword.
Speaking to reporters after her meeting with Mr Flanagan, Dr Mowlam said that the situation was serious "but not out of control". She invited all the North's political leaders to talks on Monday on the current crisis. The discussions will be entirely separate from the all-party negotiations, which are not due to resume until the following week.
"Now is the time for all who do not wish to see a return to the dark days in Northern Ireland's history to stand up against what is happening", Dr Mowlam said. She added that splinter groups should not be allowed to "bring the North over the abyss".
Dr Mowlam plans to meet the party delegations for separate discussions on Monday. It is understood that all the main parties have accepted her offer, but the position of the Progressive Unionist Party, which is threatening to withdraw from the main talks, remained unclear last night. The DUP, which has called for Dr Mowlam's resignation, agreed to meet her, but was not optimistic about the outcome.
The Ulster Unionist Party is also expected to meet the Secretary of State. However, speaking before being invited to Monday's meeting, the party leader, Mr David Trimble, said that there was "diminishing confidence" in Dr Mowlam and the peace process.
While the LVF has admitted the gun attack on the bar in north Belfast on New Year's Eve in which Mr Eddie Treanor died, many nationalist and unionist politicians yesterday continued to insist that elements of the mainstream paramilitary organisations were involved. Witnesses reported that a leading member of the Ulster Freedom Fighters, a covername for the UDA, was seen in the getaway car.
Mr Flanagan said that intelligence reports received by the RUC did not indicate involvement in the killing by any organisation other than the LVF. However, when asked if he believed that the LVF was exclusively responsible for the attack, he said it was too early to make such a statement.
The family of Mr Treanor has appealed for no retaliation for his murder. In a statement last night, they said that Mr Treanor was an innocent victim of the Troubles who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. They said they did not want any other family to endure similar suffering.
The making of King Rat: page 4 Loyalists may be trying to provoke IRA response: page 5