MR GERRY Adams is to lead a delegation to Stormont today to protest about Sinn Fein's continued exclusion from multiparty talks which are resuming after being suspended for the British general election.
Sinn Fein remains banned from negotiations until the IRA calls a new ceasefire. The DUP will also not be present at the talks in Belfast. The party is staying away until the first session of the Northern Ireland Forum on Friday.
Speaking to reporters in west Belfast yesterday, Mr Adams said he would attempt to gain entry into the talks today. He accused the British government of double standards by allowing the fringe loyalist parties to take part despite increasing loyalist violence.
He insisted his party had a right to be included immediately. "We need to redouble our efforts to build the next step in the peace process. Sinn Fein is prepared to do that. We have a right to be involved on the same basis as everybody else," he said.
"When is Sinn Fein going to be allowed our right to uphold the democratic mandate that we received? These are questions which Mr Blair and Marjorie Mowlam should be answering forthwith."
The Sinn Fein president said decommissioning could be an item on the agenda to be addressed with other issues but should not be allowed to block progress.
The IRA broke its defacto ceasefire last weekend when it left a 1,000 lb van bomb in west Belfast. Mr Adams refused to speculate, on the paramilitary group's motives.
A year ago when the talks started, Mr Adams and Mr Martin McGuinness led a delegation to Stormont and attempted to gain entry but officials told them they would not be admitted. The same procedure will be repeated today.
Last month the British government renewed contact between Sinn Fein and senior civil servants at Stormont, but this is believed to be in jeopardy following the discovery of the IRA van bomb.