The Progressive Unionist Party tonight pulled out of talks to restore devolution in Northern Ireland because it claimed it was being shut out of the negotiations.
Progressive Unionist leader Mr David Ervine said his colleagues could not be expected to "rubberstamp" a deal they had no sight of during negotiations.
In a sign of growing disillusionment about the management of the political process, Mr Ervine said: "It is clear there are things going on in the undergrowth - both political and paramilitary.
"Unless we have a clear understanding, a clear sight of what those are it would be foolish for the PUP to take its place in the upcoming talks and be used simply for a pat on the head and to rubberstamp something we have not been party to. "We are not prepared to play that game."
Mr Ervine said tonight that PUP members were divided over the value of the current process. "Having been absolutely united for so long on the (Belfast) Agreement, we now have a definite difference of opinion developing in the party about the dishonour around the agreement and not only that, members are questioning if this agreement can work.
"The important thing we have to understand here is that the IRA have been in substantial dialogue around what may come next. One can understand their feelings and need to do that and evidently the Government feels it is important to do.
"But immediately when they finish their dialogue, the media and the Government will revert to loyalism and demand that loyalists follow suit having had no dialogue, having had no understanding, having not been aware of the price extracted from the Government and the unionist community to get the IRA to do what is the right thing in the first instance."
Mr Ervine's warning came after British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair held the first in a series of meetings in Downing Street this week with Northern Ireland leaders.
PA