PRO-AGREEMENT REACTION: Pro-agreement unionists and the SDLP last night pointed the finger of blame at the IRA, accusing it of falling well short of requirements.
Mr David Trimble insisted that Sinn Féin concerns about policing, the devolution of justice and the issue of sanctions were little more than a smokescreen.
"They have not been able to deliver," he said in a statement. "Society cannot be held to ransom because republicans cannot deliver on their commitments. The failure is the failure of republicans to implement the Belfast Agreement."
He said he had warned the British government not to publish its blueprint unless it was sure of an adequate response from republicans.
"Clearly, my concerns were well founded as events bear out."
Speaking to The Irish Times, Sir Reg Empey, one of Mr Trimble's closest colleagues, asked: "Are republicans prepared once and for all to put the private army away, say that things are settled now and that there is no longer the use of or the threat of force in the background? That's the issue that needs resolving."
He added that the IRA had challenged the British and Irish governments and the US administration. These three had set out in their statement at Hillsborough what was needed, he claimed.
"It would appear that a two-fingered salute has been given to all three heads of government."
He asked: "Who speaks for the Irish Republic, is it the Taoiseach as head of government or is it the army council of the IRA? The same applies as far as Tony Blair is concerned.
"Can he allow himself to be challenged, having just taken on a dictator in the Middle East and sent 45,000 troops over there to deal with that or is he going to be challenged and faced down in his own backyard?"
The Ulster Unionists would proceed on the understanding that Assembly elections would still be held on May 29th, he said.
Mr Mark Durkan, the SDLP leader, said that on the fifth anniversary of the Belfast Agreement, it was a scandal that during only one of those five years were all the institutions envisaged by the agreement up and running.
"People feel fed up and let down," he said. "In the past, unionists were not able to evade their share of the blame for holding back the agreement. Today, republicans cannot evade their share of the blame. It is not enough for them to lecture others on their responsibilities, they have to face their own."
Calling for the two governments to publish their proposals he said they should also release what was on offer from the IRA.
"That way the people can see all that the governments were setting out and can judge for themselves whether the IRA was up for delivering and end to all paramilitary activity. Let all see all," he said. He also called for elections on May 29th to go ahead as planned.
Sinn Féin insisted it was not to blame and also called for the two governments to publish their blueprint. The party chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, said the problem was that Sinn Féin could be expelled from the political institutions on the basis of allegations of misbehaviour by armed groups over which it had no control or responsibility.