Ulster Unionists have urged the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, not to expel Sinn Fein from the talks process even if she decides that the Provisional IRA has broken its ceasefire.
The party's security spokesman, Mr Ken Maginnis, called on the British government to put Sinn Fein's record during the peace process under the spotlight at Senator George Mitchell's review of the implementation of the Belfast Agreement. The review will begin next month.
Mr Maginnis was speaking after leading a delegation at talks with Dr Mowlam at Stormont yesterday.
However, the UUP last night appeared to be divided on the issue. The dissident MP, Mr Willie Thompson, said: "Sinn Fein should be expelled until the Provisional IRA implements a proper ceasefire and not its definition of a ceasefire.
"What have we ever gained over the years from putting Sinn Fein under the spotlight? Sinn Fein has managed to outwit successive British governments."
Emerging from his meeting with the Northern Secretary, Mr Maginnis said Mr Mitchell should be allowed to examine the Provisonals' ceasefire and their approach to the agreement. If republicans wanted to be part of the democratic process, they should be examined according to the principles of democracy.
"The one thing that society does not want is terrorists and terrorist-linked parties having the opportunity to walk away from the process, which I think the IRA wants to do," he said.
"I do not think they are looking forward to the Mitchell review. Hence, I am saying let us ensure we examine overtly and openly what these people have done, including the breaches of the ceasefire, and judgment will then be made by government and by society according to the findings of the review."
Mr Maginnis claimed that any decision to exclude Sinn Fein from the review would let the Provisionals "off the hook".
Dr Mowlam is expected to announce her judgment on the state of the Provisional IRA ceasefire early next week.
Among the incidents she will take into account are the murder of a Belfast taxi-driver, Mr Charles Bennett, and the discovery of a transatlantic arms smuggling operation last month.
Mr Maginnis's comments were dismissed as "waffle" by a Sinn Fein spokesman, who said his party had nothing to fear from the Mitchell review. Mr Mitchell's remit would be to examine the failure to implement the Belfast Agreement, not the state of the ceasefires.
"The only people who seem to be afraid are the unionists, who have not been willing to engage in the political process. They will have to convince people that they are committed to the Good Friday agreement," the spokesman said.
Sinn Fein has yet to say if it will take part in the review. An announcement is expected at the end of the month.
The DUP denounced the position of both Dr Mowlam and the UUP leadership. Its North Belfast Assembly member, Mr Nigel Dodds, claimed Dr Mowlam's reluctance to make a sudden decision on the state of the ceasefire was being viewed as "a sign of weakness and will be taken as such by those who order and carry out acts of violence".
He also accused the UUP of sending out confused and conflicting messages. The SDLP also met Dr Mowlam yesterday. Afterwards, Mr John Hume said his party was looking forward to the review and violence should not be allowed to undermine the Belfast Agreement.