Sinn Fein is preparing a possible legal challenge in the event that it is expelled from the multiparty talks at Dublin Castle next week. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, is to discuss the talks crisis with the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, over the weekend.
The Government is believed to be anxious to see whatever evidence there is of IRA involvement in recent killings. Talks insiders said that the Government would be obliged to initiate any expulsion proceedings against Sinn Fein since the session is being held in its jurisdiction.
The Taoiseach said he had already talked at length with Mr Blair and President Clinton, but he refused to commit himself as to whether Sinn Fein would be expelled, saying: "I can't call the outcome." In Mr Ahern's view, the talks would continue irrespective of the outcome of the discussions concerning Sinn Fein.
The SDLP talks negotiator, Mr Mark Durkan, said that Sinn Fein could only be expelled or suspended from the talks if there was "incontrovertible" evidence that the IRA was responsible for the recent killings. The same standard would have to apply as in the expulsion of the Ulster Democratic Party from the talks.
Mr Durkan pointed out that the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, had visited UDA prisoners in the Maze despite having received an "assessment" from the RUC Chief Constable, Mr Ronnie Flanagan, that the UDA had committed a number of murders after Christmas.
Dr Mowlam said in a statement yesterday that Mr Flanagan had given her his "assessment" that the IRA was involved in the murders of Robert Dougan and Brendan Campbell. This would have to be "considered very carefully" by the two governments and the other parties.
The Sinn Fein ardchomhairle meets in Dublin today and the threat to the party's continuation in the talks will top the agenda.
A Sinn Fein spokesman outlined the approach the party would take next Monday: "We are going to go in there and very robustly, assertively and confidently argue with those who will attempt to expel us." He made it clear that Sinn Fein would not leave the talks quietly.
The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, accused the republican movement of preferring to "engage in sectarian tit-for-tat killings and a squalid gangland turf war over drugs". He told a Belfast news conference that there could be only one conclusion and one outcome on Monday - Sinn Fein's expulsion from the talks.
It is understood that, by tomorrow evening, the RUC will have to decide to charge or release three suspects being questioned about the murder of Mr Dougan. The decision could have a crucial bearing on Monday's discussions at Dublin Castle.
Talks can proceed without Sinn Fein, Taoiseach says; Unionists united in pushing for expulsion of SF from talks: page 7; Editorial comment: page 15