There is no prospect of a power-sharing executive at Stormont for the foreseeable future, the DUP leader warned yesterday.
Dr Ian Paisley said his party would "not countenance an executive in Northern Ireland that is inclusive of those who are not committed to exclusively peaceful and democratic means".
Speaking at Stormont as the British and Irish governments pressed ahead with plans for multi-party talks next month aimed at restoring the institutions of the Belfast Agreement, Dr Paisley denied he was blocking the return of devolution.
The DUP was committed to achieving progress in the coming year and would give Prime Minister Tony Blair a 16-page document outlining its views on the way ahead when a delegation goes to Downing Street next week. Dr Paisley said the paper "Facing Reality" sets out "what we believe is the only realistic hope of making progress".
He added: "The proposals outline a system which provides for further building blocks when the foundations are firmly set and an enabling environment exists."
He declined to give details of the proposals but The Irish Times understands there will be a reference to a two-stage return of devolution short of a full executive including republicans.
Sources at the Northern Ireland Office in Belfast and at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin said their policy remained unchanged. A well-placed British source said Northern Secretary Peter Hain was still committed to a full power-sharing executive, while a Dublin source said both governments would be stepping up their efforts to achieve progress leading to a restoration of devolution.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern meets a delegation of US congressmen, including Jim Walsh of the Friends of Ireland, in Co Louth today and is expected to tell them that efforts to restore Stormont are being stepped up.
Other parties criticised the DUP remarks. Sinn Féin said Dr Paisley was unwilling to commit his party to power sharing on the basis of equality and respect. Ulster Unionists and the SDLP urged the British government to name the date for a return of devolution, claiming this would focus minds in Belfast on the problems standing in the way of progress.
Sinn Féin's Pat Doherty said the two governments needed to make it clear that the only way forward was the roadmap set out in the Good Friday agreement. He said Dr Paisley was challenging the democratic standing of the agreement and the two governments' commitment to it.
"Sinn Féin will not countenance a move away from the fundamental principles which underpin the Good Friday agreement," he said. "The DUP cannot be allowed to continue to block forward movement towards the re-establishment of the political institutions. Republicans have delivered on every commitment given. It is now time for others to do likewise."
SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: "There is only one way to cut through all the posturing, the posing and the messing. That is for the governments to set out a date on which the institutions are going to be restored come what may. On that date, the parties are going to find themselves in restored institutions and are going to have to take responsibility."
Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey also called for a date to be set for the restoration of the assembly.