North's party leaders to meet Blair

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and Democratic Unionist Party leader the Rev Ian Paisley are to hold separate talks with the …

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and Democratic Unionist Party leader the Rev Ian Paisley are to hold separate talks with the British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair, next week.

In the wake of the IRA dumping its guns the party chiefs are to meet with Mr Blair as part of efforts to press on with the peace process. The talks will be held in Downing Street on Thursday.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will meet Mr Blair later this month to review developments in the peace process.

Mr Adams briefed his part in Dublin on this week's decommissioning by the IRA, while Mr Paisley met with the two clergymen who witnessed the acts of decommissioning.

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The DUP remain unconvinced by the IRA's move and have questioned the level of proof supplied by the head of the decommissioning body General John de Chastelain.