Sinn Fein has refused to condemn the killing of Mr Joe O'Connor, the "Real IRA" member shot dead in west Belfast last Friday. No group has claimed responsibility but local people and the victim's family have blamed the Provisional IRA.
Tensions between the "Real IRA" and the Provisional IRA are running high, particularly in west Belfast. Both Mr Gerry Adams and the 32-County Sovereignty Movement, which security sources claim is the political wing of the "Real IRA", last night appealed for calm.
Mr O'Connor's funeral will be held tomorrow. Sources said he would be buried with "full republican honours". The RUC Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, said it was too early to state categorically who was responsible.
"There is much speculation about the Provisional IRA and their alleged involvement. We certainly have not ruled that out. That is a definite line of inquiry but at this stage it is too soon to be definitive in saying who we believe carried that dreadful murder out."
At a press conference in west Belfast yesterday, Sinn Fein's Mr Gerry Kelly described the killing as "tragic" but refused to condemn it. He said condemning incidents had not worked during the Troubles.
Sinn Fein has recently condemned loyalist and dissident republican attacks, but Mr Kelly insisted he did not wish to become involved in the politics of condemnation. He said there was considerable speculation about Provisional IRA involvement but he did not believe it was correct. People were "throwing accusations about willy-nilly".
Mr Kelly acknowledged that a statement from the Provisional IRA could be "helpful" in clearly establishing who was responsible. He denounced a statement from the "Real IRA" which blamed the Provisionals and threatened retaliation on those who ordered and carried out the killing.
He said the threat had been made for publicity reasons and a small group like the "Real IRA" threatening the Provisionals was "of no consequence". Mr O'Connor's family yesterday picketed Sinn Fein offices on the Falls Road. They carried placards saying, "We saw your gunmen" and "Volunteer Joe O'Connor, murdered by the Provos".
Mr O'Connor's mother Margaret said she had no doubt the Provisional IRA was responsible. "Local people saw Joe's killers putting on and taking off their masks. I know the names. I can tell them to Gerry Adams to his face."
Mr Adams had earlier offered to meet the O'Connor family. He said many nationalists were shocked by the killing and "dismayed and disappointed at the claims and counter-claims" which had followed.
"Nothing should be said or done by anyone which would increase tension at this difficult time. The republican agenda will not be served by any action or rhetoric which would exacerbate the current situation. I am prepared to meet Joe O'Connor's family if they consider this will be helpful."
The 32-County Sovereignty Movement accused Sinn Fein of attempting to cover up Provisional IRA involvement.
The group's chairman, Mr Francie Mackey, said: "We call upon Gerry Adams MP to explain to the people of west Belfast how the murder of a republican - whose family has given a lifetime of service to the republican cause - is part of a `steppingstone' strategy to a united Ireland."
The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, and the Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, will meet later this week to discuss Northern Ireland security issues.
A Government spokesman confirmed last night that the men will meet but a definite date or venue has not been decided. It will most likely be held in Dublin. The security threat posed by the "Real IRA" is likely to be on the agenda. The Government spokesman confirmed that the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, were likely to meet on the fringes of the EU-Asia summit in Seoul on Friday to discuss how to move forward in relation to the policing Bill.