DUP, UK Unionists to drop talks complaint

THE DUP and the UK Unionist party will not be making a formal complaint about the participation of the two loyalist fringe parties, the UDP and the PUP, at the Stormont talks.

It was expected that they would complain following the recent car bomb attacks and the attempted murder of two senior republicans attributed to loyalist extremists. However, the two parties have indicated that they want the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, to make, up his own mind about the decision.

Previously the Rev Ian Paisley had challenged Sir Patrick Mayhew to produce the "security force accusations" against the loyalists.

Mr David Irvine, of the PUP was not impressed, however, with the decision not to formally complain. He said there was a "spurious" reason why his party and the UDP would not be "indicted".

It will give the UK Unionist Party and the Democratic Unionist Party the opportunity to go for David Trimble's jugular on the determination of decommissioning."

He believed the two other parties wanted to attack the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party "to make him feel uncomfortable so that he can't reach any conceivable agreement with the SDLP".

However, Mr Trimble merely said he was glad the DUP and UK Unionists had second thoughts about complaining. "I'm glad they are following the line we have taken with regard to the paramilitary related parties. The first objective must be to try to restore and sustain the loyalist ceasefire on an honest basis."

Earlier, the Ulster Unionist Party and the DUP spoke on the Government's dealings with Sinn Fein. The UUP deputy leader, Mr John Taylor, said it was "about time" the Government and its officials stopped talking to Sinn Fein. It would demonstrate to "Sinn Fein/IRA that the Government in Dublin is not going to tolerate violence".

He said that, as the IRA increased its violence in stages, so Sinn Fein should be isolated. Border roads should be closed and then, eventually, Sinn Fein should not be allowed to broadcast on television and radio. He also called on the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, to cut his contact with Sinn Fein.

Mr Peter Robinson, the DUP deputy leader, said: "John Bruton told us after Canary Wharf that his Government would not talk to Sinn Fein /IRA but he has backslidden since then." The Government should cut all "direct and indirect contact" and that included contact with Sinn Fein through the SDLP leader.