WHILE Mr Gerry Adams called on political leaders to assert the primacy of dialogue over violence, other voices in the North yesterday were beginning to clamour for a security response to the latest IRA bombings.
The DUP called for internment on both sides of the Border and the UUP also advocated vigorous security measures and the political isolation of Sinn Fein.
Mr Adams, who said the peace process was over, asserted that the way to rebuild it was "to anchor it in a foundation of dialogue".
"Make it unnecessary and impossible for people who feel they have to resort to armed struggle to do so by uplifting and asserting the supremacy and the primacy of dialogue.
He said he would use whatever influence he had, along with others, to create the type of conditions to bring this about.
The Sinn Fein president said the peace process had to be restored, and that meant everybody taking risks and being resilient enough to face up to the needs of the situation.
"When the peace process broke down in the Middle East, Arafat and Rabin didn't walk away from the situation, they didn't close doors," he added. "When the same thing happened in South Africa, Mr Mandela and Mr De Klerk didn't walk away from the situation. They were in many ways compelled to redouble their efforts."
Appealing for calm, Mr Adams said that there were only two ways to end wars - by one side defeating the other or by negotiation and dialogue. The history of the past 25 years had shown that it was impossible for one side in the North to beat the other.
The DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, calling for internment, North and South, said: "Internment is a very weak and feeble instrument if it is going to be introduced in the United Kingdom alone.
"Unless it is introduced in the Republic at the same time it will not be totally effective the Irish Republic would provide a sanctuary for the IRA."
Fears of a loyalist paramilitary backlash continued to preoccupy the Northern community, but the indications were that the loyalist leaders would continue, temporarily, to restrain their more militant activists.
The Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, said it was important that "the mature and responsible leadership" being given by the leaders of the loyalist parties should be maintained and heeded. Any retaliation by loyalists would be
"catastrophic", he said.