British government sources are continuing to play down hopes of a dramatic breakthrough on the issues of decommissioning paramilitary arms and the creation of the new Northern Ireland executive, ahead of a series of meetings which Mr Tony Blair will hold today with Mr David Trimble, Mr Seamus Mallon and Mr Gerry Adams.
Amid signs of a further hardening of attitudes in both the unionist and republican camps, Mr Mallon, the Deputy First Minister, last night voiced the fear that the decommissioning issue might be "being used by both sides to evade their responsibilities" under the agreement.
Following their joint appearance yesterday, Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon appeared together on the conference fringe last night, and will formally address delegates this afternoon. It remains unclear whether they will discuss the present political impasse jointly or separately with Mr Blair.
Mr Adams told a Tribune rally last night that "the aim of democratic Irish opinion, democratic opinion in Britain and internationally must be to seek a change in British policy from one of upholding the Union to one of ending the union."
Mr Adams, who was sharing the platform with the Ulster Unionist councillor, Mr Chris McGimpsey, told the rally the role of the Labour government would be critical.
Mr Blair's generation of leaders might feel little responsibility for the historic and contemporary state of affairs in Ireland, he said. "But if we are to build a partnership for peace which ushers in a new era for the people of Ireland and Britain, then this government must face up to that responsibility with absolute honesty."
Mr Adams said: "British governments uphold and defend or promote British policy in British national interests. British policy towards Ireland at this time is to uphold the Union. It is to uphold the partition of Ireland. There is no such thing as a neutral British government. It is not a referee. But to uphold the Union means using repression, denying civil and human rights, and defending inequality and injustice."