The Democratic Unionist Party deputy leader has accused the Secretary of State of offering no rational explanation for decisions regarding paramilitary organisations and the early release of prisoners. Mr Peter Robinson described his meeting yesterday with Dr Mo Mowlam as the "most dreadful in 25 years of dealing with secretaries of states". He expressed his deepening frustration over the British and Irish governments' insistence on pressing ahead with early releases of prisoners.
"I pointed out incident after incident in which the pro-agreement paramilitary organisations had been involved. Yet the Secretary of State believes in her judgment that the war is over," said the East Belfast MP. He accused Dr Mowlam of pandering to the IRA and of being incapable of providing a rational explanation as to why if the war was over people were still being beaten and murdered and towns bombed.