Plans for NI elections hang in the balance

Sunday, 12 October 2003 12:00 AM

Fresh attempts to hold Northern Ireland elections next month have ended without a breakthrough.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble met in Belfast yesterday bidding to restore the power sharing executive but weapons decommissioning and UUP backing to devolve policing and justice to the Northern Ireland Assembly were major stumbling blocks.

Sinn Fein is still concerned about the UUP's rejection of the Anglo-Irish Joint Declaration.

Sinn Fein said discussions had not ended but would "intensify" in the coming days."

But Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, said he thought it unlikely that an agreement would be reached between the UUP and Sinn Fein.

Speaking on Saturday, Mr Ahern said: "If you ask me if I am upbeat, I have to be honest and tell you no I am not - I am downbeat.

"If you ask for a call whether I would like elections or not if we have not made enough progress, I still think, as a democrat, that I would still rather see elections held."

The gathering came amid suggestions that the Blair administration next week will announce plans for Assembly elections next month. Assembly elections were postponed in May.

The PM himself and chief of staff Jonathan Powell held further "positive" talks with Mr Adams and deputy Martin McGuinness on Friday.

Devolution was suspended last October after it was alleged the IRA had infiltrated Stormont with an intelligence gathering unit.

November 13 had been mentioned as the most likely date for the elections.

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