A LEADING member of one of the two fringe loyalist parties said he was now totally disheartened about the peace process.
Mr David Adams, a spokesman for the Ulster Democratic Party, which reflects the political thinking of the largest loyalist paramilitary organisation, the UDA, said: "I see the whole thing falling apart because of the simple fact that republicans cannot deal in a purely democratic way. I think it sends a clear message to all the people of Northern Ireland how republicans view the future and that they would prefer to drag us all back into conflict."
Mr Adams, who was on his way back from the Stormont multiparty talks to his home in Lisburn when the explosion occurred, said: "I was hoping against hope it was a natural explosion, but then the second one went off. The lack of security around the place itself indicated to us right away that there must have been no warning."
He said the blast had undermined his party's position, while it was continuing to insist on a loyalist ceasefire.
Mr Gary McMichael, the leader of the Ulster Democratic Party and a councillor in Lisburn, said: "Loyalists will be looking at this very closely - it signifies republicans are not intent on finding a democratic settlement."
The Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, appealed to loyalist paramilitaries "not to join the IRA in their wickedness", saying they had occupied the moral high ground by maintaining their own ceasefire.
Mr Trimble said the attack was very serious and its effects would be considerable.
"The probability is that this is the work of a republican organisation. It marks quite a significant development in the renewed republican campaign and has implications for what loyalists do."
He added: "I hope people will not rush to conclusions and that the loyalists, whatever happens, "will not allow themselves to be provoked into action by this."
He asked of the Prime Minister, Mr John Major: "How much more evidence do you need that the IRA ceasefire is over, and how long will it be before there's an adequate security response?
Mr Peter Robinson, the deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, condemned the bombing but said that, in a strange way, it might advance the multi party talks. There were parties at the talks who felt they should mark time until Sinn Fein entered the process, he said.
"If it can be clearly identified now that Sinn Fein/IRA don't want to be part of the talks process, that they are so wedded to violence that those parties would be wasting their time waiting for them, then clearly they might be prepared to get down to working with the constitutional parties that are there."
Mr Robinson urged loyalist paramilitaries not to fall into the IRA's trap and be goaded into retaliating. "It is not in the interests of loyalist paramilitaries to go back to violence."
He said they had shown remarkable restraint when the ceasefire broke and when bomb attacks took place.
"I think they have the discipline to maintain their ceasefire - they certainly inherit the high moral ground if they do.
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, said he was very deeply concerned, adding: "It is important we get the full facts but I hope it will not lead to any escalation of violence in any shape or form from whatever quarter.
Mr Hume added: "This is a terrible deed and whoever carried it out is no friend of Northern Ireland and its people."
The West Belfast SDLP MP Dr Joe Hendron, said he was shattered. "Like everyone else, I'm still waiting to hear details, but if these are bombs and people are hurt it's a tragedy for the country. It's shocking."