The civil servant who was questioned in relation to an alleged spy ring at Stormont has been released without charge.
The man who worked in Mr David Trimble's private office at the Northern Ireland Assembly was questioned by detectives after being arrested at Castle Buildings on Wednesday.
The man also worked in the office of the Deputy First Minister Mr Mark Durkan, security sources said.The man, who is believed to be from the Belfast area, had worked in Mr Trimble's private office for three months before being transferred to Mr Durkan's office for six months.
Sinn Féin has reacted by calling on Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble and the British Prime Minister Tony Blair to apologise for comments made after the man's arrest. The party's policing spokesman Gerry Kelly said: "Mr Blair described the arrest as a 'serious and grave matter'. Mr Trimble said 'it has huge implications for the peace process'. Both should now apologise publicly for their remarks."
He accused the police of putting the man's life in danger and said his release confirmed that the arrest was part of a witch-hunt against Catholic civil servants. "They have made him a target and put his life in jeopardy.
"His identity and address was being briefed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland to jounalists in Belfast throughout yesterday.
"The release of this man should in future act as a guide to those within the political and media establishment who have in recent weeks rushed to charge and convict people on the basis of briefings from the PSNI Special Branch," he added.
The civil servant had also worked for six months in the private office of deputy first minister Mark Durkan. Mr Durkan said the release vindicated his warning yesterday for people not to jump to any conclusions about his arrest.
"I hope that those who have been multiplying suspicions over this incident will stop doing so. "Those who have been involved in intelligence gathering must also realise that their actions have left many decent Catholics working in the civil service under suspicion. "
I hope that the media will continue to respect the right to privacy of the civil servant concerned."
An Ulster Unionist spokesman said: "Anybody who is arrested and is released without charge is to be regarded as an innocent man."
PA