Politics: Trimble in peace talks warning

A NEW threat hung over the Northern Ireland peace talks tonight after the Ulster Unionists warned against the early readmission of Sinn Fein.

At a meeting with Tony Blair in Downing Street, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said the planned re-entry date of 9 March, following Sinn Fein's expulsion over two IRA murders, was too soon. While he stopped short of threatening a walkout, he said his party was prepared to take other unspecified measures if Sinn Fein were allowed back on that date. "Should they return prematurely, we will find a way of making sure they do not dominate or control the process," he said.

The move came as London and Dublin were seeking to step up the tempo of the talks process in an effort to secure agreement by Easter, with referendums on the outcome in the North and the Republic in May.

Mr Trimble was considered to have secured a tactical victory after the two governments confirmed they would not present a joint paper setting out their view of a political settlement.