The Democratic Unionist deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, has said the stance of the Ulster Unionist leader is a stunt designed to delay the Assembly polls scheduled for next month, writes Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor.
"His declaration that his party would not support the election of a First or Deputy First Minister is yet another cynical attempt to pressurise the Prime Minister into delaying the election," Mr Robinson said.
Mr Gerry Adams referred to remarks by Mr David Trimble, saying: "We can't all keep second-guessing Mr Trimble on these matters.
The IRA leadership has stated its determination to ensure that its activities will be consistent with its resolve to see the complete and final closure of the conflict."
The Irish and British governments yesterday confirmed that they are satisfied with two of the three answers to questions posed by Mr Tony Blair last week and responded to on Sunday by the Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams.
Mr Paul Murphy, the Northern Secretary, yesterday said the answers relating to decommissioning and the end of conflict were adequate, satisfactory and were given "with clarity".
He said the IRA would act in the context of implementation of the Belfast Agreement and not in the context of Irish unity.
However he said the question of the continuing paramilitary activity had not been answered satisfactorily and "with the clarity we would like". Therefore further discussions were needed.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, welcomed Mr Adams's statement as a "very clear advance". He said it was important for all concerned to help to "provide the most positive and constructive context and atmosphere possible for the elections to take place".
Uncertainty over the election's date was dismissed. Neither minister would depart from the line that the election date was set in law and that the priority centred on achieving progress on the third of Mr Blair's questions to the IRA.
The Alliance leader, Mr David Ford, said: "If Sinn Féin and their friends cannot engage in acts of completion between now and May 29th, then it is up to the \ government to make clear how the rest of us will run democratic politics until Sinn Féin join with us. We don't want to exclude them, but at the moment Sinn Féin are excluding themselves."
The Progressive Unionist leader, Mr David Ervine, commended the IRA for its advances but he accused it of leaving "an escape route". This route might not be one they intended to use "but someone else will use it . . . I think they need to close that down. They need to say the war is over."
Ms Monica McWilliams of the Women's Coalition said she wanted to see republicans progress on decommissioning and policing. She also called for unionists to respond positively to the Sinn Féin president's statement.
Meanwhile, veteran republican Mr Brian Keenan said last night that what he called the "struggle" was "a long way from being over". Mr Keenan made the comment during an address to Sinn Féin supporters at a meeting in Derry last night at which the party's three Assembly candidates in the Foyle constituency were introduced to the meeting.