Bomb could stop talks

Both the British and Irish governments are reviewing the question of holding further meetings with Sinn Fein in the light of the weekend return of the IRA to bombing.

The multi-party talks are due to resume in Belfast today under the chairmanship of George Mitchell, the former United States Senator, who yesterday had a meeting with Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, in London. Sinn Fein are excluded from these talks on the grounds that the IRA has not declared a ceasefire.

A device left in a van at Poleglass in west Belfast at the weekend contained a 1,000lb bomb, according to the security forces, and was aimed at taking the lives of security force personnel. This clear breach of the undeclared IRA ceasefire which has been in effect in Northern Ireland since 10 April has created security worries and political difficulties for the authorities.

Last week a Sinn Fein delegation led by Martin McGuinness met officials for the second time and agreed to hold a third meeting "subject to events on the ground", which was taken to mean that contacts were dependent on a continuation of the undeclared cessation.

The Northern Ireland security minister, Adam Ingram, said yesterday that continuation of the dialogue with Sinn Fein had to be looked at again. He added: "We are still looking at the full information coming forward, as to what the IRA are saying about it, what Sinn Fein are saying about it and, of course, our own security assessment of it."