SINN FEIN'S chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, warned yesterday it would be "very hard" to resurrect the peace process while the British Prime Minister Mr John Major, remained in office.
Addressing a press conference for the international media in London, Mr McGuinness said although Mr Major had effectively "killed" the peace process by "capitulating" to loyalist violence and the demands of the unionists at Drumcree, he stressed Sinn Fein still believed it was possible to build a new process.
Mr McGuinness predicted the necessary conditions for progress were unlikely to be achieved by Mr Major's government and he pointedly welcomed the Labour party's recent commitment to achieving a united Ireland.
"I doubt very much that the peace process can be resurrected by a British government led by John Major," he added.
Mr McGuinness also suggested there was growing evidence of a mutiny in the RUC over the events at Drumcree, with many officers refusing to confront the Orangemen and block the march.
"The position appears to be that during Drumcree, very senior members of the RUC were virtually involved in a mutiny because they refused to accept the reality that they would have to face up to the Orangemen.
After the press conference, Mr, McGuinness had a series of private meetings with a number of Conservative and Labour MPs at the House of Commons to discuss the events at Drumcree.