MR GERRY KELLY, the former Maze escaper and current member of Sinn Fein's talks delegation, is to contest the forthcoming elections for the party. In what is believed to be his first foray into the electoral arena, Mr Kelly, (42), who is from the west of the city, is running in North Belfast, along with four other Sinn Fein candidates.
He was jailed for life for the 1973 Old Bailey and New Scotland Yard bombings in which one person was killed and 250 others injured. He escaped from the Maze prison in 1983 and was recaptured in Amsterdam.
He has remained involved with the republican movement since his release and was a member of Sinn Fein's negotiating team which met British representatives at Stormont Castle.
Recent media reports have portrayed Mr Kelly as a hardliner who is opposed to Sinn Fein's peace strategy. However, his decision to contest the elections could be interpreted as an endorsement of the party's current position and of the leadership of Mr Gerry Adams.
Mr Adams was himself selected last night to stand in the West Belfast constituency, where Sinn Fein will have five candidates also. He said that his party was participating, in the elections order to restate its mandate, and claim its right to be at the talks' table.
Sinn Fein's other candidates in North Belfast are two councillors, Mr Joe Austin and Mr Bobby Lavery Ms Anne Speed, from Dublin; and Ms Christine Beattie.
Mr Austin said that a vote of Sinn Fein stood for inclusive negotiations without preconditions
Sinn Fein will be putting forward candidates in Strangford, Co Down, for the first time. They are Mr Garret O Fachtna and Mr Paddy McGreevy.
The DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, and his wife, Iris, will contest the East Belfast and Strangford constituencies, respectively.
The other four DUP candidates for East Belfast include the party press officer, Mr Sammy Wilson; its economic spokesman, Mr Robin Newton; the local association on secretary, Ms Irene Lewis and Councillor Wallace Brown.
The other three DUP candidates in Strangford are a former mayor of Newtownards, Mr Jim Shannon; a leading member of the Apprentice Boys, Mr Sandy Geddis; and a prominent businessman, Mr Bill Morrison.
Mr Robinson said that an IRA ceasefire just before the start of all party negotiations on June 10th would be inadequate. The British government's ground rules for talks stated that parties had to establish a commitment to exclusively peaceful methods.
"With less than four weeks to the starting date for the negotiating process, there is not a sufficient period for the IRA to demonstrate such a commitment", he said.
"The IRA's record of ceasefire breaking would require even the suckers in the Northern Ireland Office to question any cessation of violence in the days up to the talks. Such a ceasefire would be a ceasefire of convenience."
Mr Robinson urged any unionist prepared to endorse an invitation being sent to Sinn Fein in these circumstances to inform the public now.
"Talk in some unionist circles of a willingness to talk to Sinn Fein after an election and a willingness to be flexible is folly and will place the Union in jeopardy. The DUP will not sit down with IRA gunmen with or without a ceasefire of convenience," he added.
The Workers' Party yesterday announced that 25 per cent of its party is contesting all 18 constituencies and is confident that it will be in the top 10 in the list of parties.
The SDLP MP for South Down, Mr Eddie McGrady, will be heading the party's list of candidates in that constituency. The others are Mr Hugh Carr, Ms Margaret Ritchie, Ms Marietta Farrell and Mr John Doris.
The SDLP candidates in Derry are the party leader, Mr John Hume; Mr Mark Durkan; Mr John Tierney, Mr Pat Devine and Ms Mary Bradley.
In an unusual move, the party will contest North Down, with Mr Owen Adams as candidate.
The SDLP candidates for Mid Ulster are Mr Patsy McGlone, Mr Denis Haughey, Ms Kate Lagan, Mr Pat McErlean and Mr Joe McBride.