Major refuses to pronounce death of the peace process

John Major refused last night to pronounce the peace process dead in the wake of the Lisburn bombs.

With representatives arriving in Bournemouth for the start today of the Conservative conference, the return of the bomb to Northern Ireland will stiffen party resolve to take a hard line against the terrorists. But the Prime Minister, staging an impromptu press conference, said: "So much depends on who did this. If this was one of the splinter groups, then they have been looking at that sort of activity for some time. And I have to say that it isn't helpful when people keep speculating that the peace process is over.

"I have heard that repeatedly over the last four or five years, and I have to say to you the people of Northern Ireland do not wish the peace process to be over. The vast majority of people in Northern Ireland, some of them for the first time in their lives, have seen what it was actually like to have 18 months without bombs, without violence, and with the changing circumstances of life in Northern Ireland. The pressure from them to make sure that this process continues is unrelenting, and I am on their side.

"I want this to continue and I want to reach a satisfactory outcome. But if anybody thinks, whether it's a splinter group or the Provisional IRA, that they can bomb the British government out of the policy stance that they think is right for Northern Ireland, then they are making a very serious and fundamental mistake."

Nevertheless, the return of bombing to Northern Ireland and security targets was being seen by Conservative MPs as the end of the peace process. David Wilshire, vice-chairman of the Tory backbench Northern Ireland committee and a member of the Commons Northern Ireland Select Committee, said: "Yet another tragedy, another avoidable disaster - is it now possible that the British government, the Irish government and the American government will come to their senses, and realise that they can't compromise with killers?"

The Labour leader, Tony Blair, said: "I condemn utterly those responsible for this outrage. My thoughts are with the injured and their families."

The Liberal Democrat leader, Paddy Ashdown, said: "My first thoughts are with the injured. This is a very grave day for Northern Ireland and the peace process. It seems likely the Republicans are behind this act of terrorism, and it is important that Unionists do not allow themselves to be provoked."

The Irish government said the attacks were "aimed at undermining the multi-party talks in Belfast". The Irish Prime Minister, John Bruton, said: "I believe it was designed to provoke ... But I believe that the good sense and restraint which has, despite other provocations, allowed the loyalists to stick by the political path, which is the only rational path for rational people to follow, is the way that they will go."

The Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said the blasts "emphasise the urgent need to fill the current protracted and dangerous vacuum with a process of real, inclusive dialogue."

The SDLP leader, John Hume, who played a pivotal role brokering the IRA truce said he hoped it could still be restored.