British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair and Northern Secretary Mr Peter Mandelson are split over reducing the military presence in Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness claimed today.
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Martin McGuinness says the Northern Secretary is out of step
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He said Mr Mandelson was out of step with his boss and the Irish and US governments on demilitarisation.
"The conflict between the British Prime Minister and the British Secretary of State needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency," said Mr McGuinness.
Renewing his call for a reduction in Border bases and the British army presence, he said: "I believe the best defenders of the Good Friday Agreement in the south Armagh area are the people - the nationalists and republicans of south Armagh.
"These people are more effective than having millions of soldiers on the streets.
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"The British Prime Minister accepts my arguments, the US government and the Irish Government accept my arguments.
"Peter Mandelson told me he does not accept my arguments and that is where the difficulty lies, because he believes the British army and the presence of thousands of soldiers and helicopter flights and spy posts are the best way to defend the Good Friday Agreement."
Mr McGuinness said there was need to remove the paraphernalia of war and Mr Blair needed to "effectively face down the securocrats" within the British establishment in London and the Northern Ireland Office.
Sinn Fein is due to resume dialogue with the British Government in a bid to break the impasse over IRA decommissioning, demilitarisation and policing which is threatening the peace process.
Mr McGuinness, speaking on BBC Radio Ulster, said he was "very hopeful" there would be serious negotiation towards the end of the week or early next.
PA