Loyalist paramilitaries are filling a political vacuum created by the ditching of elections for Northern Ireland's Assembly, a leading Sinn Féin member warnedtoday.
Mr Gerry Kelly called on the British government to organise elections "without delay". Speaking at a press conference at the House of Commons, Mr Kelly warned that sectarian strife "is now coming to the fore again in attacks on Catholic houses".
He said: "You can see loyalist paramilitaries starting to fill the political vacuum. And our lesson over the last 30 years is that every time you allow a political vacuum, or allow it to deepen, which is what Tony Blair has done, unfortunately loyalist paramilitaries and others tend to fill that."
Mr Kelly argued that Sinn Féin had "bent over backwards" to try to help Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, but internal divisions within unionism were hindering the peace process.
"Unionism needs to sort itself out. . . . Becoming a 'save Dave' process as opposed to a political process is not going to sort it out," said Mr Kelly.
Mr Kelly said the cancellation of elections in the spring had created a "deep well of anger and frustration" and warned that "even with an election date there is no guarantee of future initiatives from republicans."
Mr Kelly was also hitting the election trail in London - supporting a candidate in the Brent East by-election whose brother was murdered by British soldiers.
Ms Kelly McBride, from north Belfast, is standing in the by-election to highlight her family's continuing campaign to have Scots Guardsmen Mark Wright and John Fisher thrown out of the Army.
PA