Sinn Fein says policy on policing is a threat

Northern Ireland's Good Friday Agreement is being jeopardised by the Government's failure to implement in full the Patten report on the future of policing in the province, says Sinn Fein.

Northern Ireland's Good Friday Agreement is being jeopardised by the Government's failure to implement in full the Patten report on the future of policing in the province, says Sinn Fein.

Gerry Kelly, party Assembly member for Belfast North, former IRA member and talks negotiator, told a fringe meeting that the Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson was gambling with the success of the peace deal.

Republicans say Mr Mandelson is watering down the proposals of the Tory former cabinet minister Chris Patten for the province's police to assuage Unionist concerns.

But Mr Kelly acknowledged that Ulster Unionist Leader David Trimble was experiencing major party problems.

"David Trimble is in trouble," he said. "We want David Trimble to be saved.He is the leader of unionism. We must solve this problem together."