The Mitchell review of the Belfast Agreement is doomed to failure, the deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party has predicted.
Mr John Taylor said yesterday he believed Senator George Mitchell would be forced to give up on the accord within weeks and warned the IRA could go back to full-scale violence.
He said he now believed republicans were never sincere about the peace accord and stressed the unionist community would not accept Sinn Fein in an executive without IRA decommissioning.
"I'm not against the agreement, I'm against talking to the IRA while they refuse to comply with their obligations," said Mr Taylor.
"My impression is the Mitchell review will run into the wall at the end of October, early November, and he'll return to the US saying he's failed."
Mr Taylor, who has refused to participate in the review, was nevertheless adamant that his differences with UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, were over tactics, not policy. He said he had the "greatest respect" for him and no intention of mounting a leadership challenge.
Mr Taylor said he was certain the IRA had no plans to decommission after the uncovering of a US-based gun smuggling operation in July.
"The decision to re-arm was taken at the highest level and leaves me in little doubt the Provisional IRA would be prepared to recommence their violence," he said.
"I think the Prime Minister is going to feel very embarrassed if this collapses, all the terrorist prisoners are free and there will be a big bang in the centre of London."