THE Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP), the INLA's political wing, has said the paramilitary group would not be decommissioning its weapons "this side of an all-encompassing settlement".

A party spokeswoman said. "Let the British and their domestic lackeys forge on with their Machiavellian schemes. The republican socialist movement is bound by none of the electoral results or agreements."

The IRSP is not on the British government list of parties which can contest the May 30th election.

Meanwhile, the DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, who is standing in East Belfast, has accused the British government of weakening its position on decommissioning by saying the issue would not be allowed to block progress at the start of all party talks.

A Democratic Left candidate in Mid-Ulster, Mr Frank McElroy, said decommissioning the mindsets of "fundamentalist politicians" was as important as decommissioning arms.

"Today these politicians are travelling country lanes with registers marked Catholic or Protestant, selecting potential supporters on a sectarian basis while asking the electorate to mandate them as healers and peacemakers," he said.

The Democratic Left candidate in West Belfast, Ms Mary McMahon, condemned British government health cutbacks.

"As with other areas of public policy, such as housing, the so called peace dividend is quickly becoming starvation to death of programmes which are supposed to target social need," she said.

The SDLP MP for West Belfast, Dr Joe Hendron, who is also contesting the election, has called on Sir Patrick Mayhew to make an urgent statement to the Commons on the state of the North's health service.

The Green Party urged the IRA to renew its cease-fire and decommission weapons.