Protests were mounted outside a number of Northern Ireland police stations this afternoon as four people continue to be questioned after yesterday's sensational raids on Belfast locations including Sinn Fein's Stormont offices.
The head of administration at Sinn Fein's Stormont office Mr Denis Donaldson, is among those being held about the alleged breach of the Northern Ireland Office (NIO). A former employee at the NIO is being questioned.
Security sources claim republicans have gained access to sensitive information of a political nature through a spy at the NIO.
And during raids on homes in north and west Belfast, police seized material but refused to disclose its nature.
They also conducted a dramatic raid of the Sinn Fein offices at Stormont, seizing two computer discs and a small amount of documentation.
Several protesters outside Andersonstown Police Station this afternoon carried placards denouncing the Police Service of Northern Ireland. One described the PSNI as "Trimble's storm troopers". Another claimed the "RUC/PSNI" were "attacking democracy".
The protestors were joined by veteran republican Mr Jo Cahill.
Car horns sounded as drivers passed the picket.
Protests were also staged in Belfast's Antrim Road Police Station and in Derry.
Sinn Fein minister Ms Bairbre de Brun insisted the current power sharing arrangements at Stormont were "the only way forward" for Northern Ireland's parties.
She said: "We are part of the peace process ... We have played our part in that fully and totally.
"We have had constant attempts by people to justify a pulling out and a wrecking of this forward movement, the movement for change, and I don't think anybody realistically wants to see that happen."
She said major questions were now being asked of Prime Minister Tony Blair's government over whether it was acquiescing in a bid by elements in the security services to bring down the institution.
She accused the new police service of orchestrating "a media orientated event". "What we saw yesterday was an organised, politicised media oriented event," the West Belfast MLA argued.
"You were supposed to film, and you did film, mounds of jeeps and dozens of PSNI officers running into the Stormont Assembly building and I know from people on the inside that they weren't doing anything when they got there.
"When we tried to get you in there to show you that, they pulled out."
The events alarmed Ulster Unionists who last month issued an ultimatum to republicans to prove their commitment to the peace process and the eventual disbandment of the IRA.
The January 18th deadline saw Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble's party warn that its ministers would be forced to pull out of the Executive if they were not satisfied with republican intentions.
There were signs, however, today that the UUP may have to take action before the self-imposed deadline.
Ulster Unionist minister Mr Michael McGimpsey warned on BBC radio Ulster his party was "not prepared to carry on in government with Sinn Fein" while the doubts remained about republicans: "Either Gerry Adams or Martin McGuinness have lost control of their movement or they are insincere about the peace ... Either way, any of these accusations that are there, if they stack up, Sinn Fein must leave the Executive."
PA