Although the Ulster Unionist Party has rejoined the talks process, tensions have arisen over the pace of progress towards substantive negotiations. The Government is anxious to see the talks moving on to discussion of the "three strands" of political relationships, and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, is to contact the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, on thhe issue in the next few days The UUP has sought the exclusion of Sinn Fein from the process because of the IRA interview in An Phoblacht last week and the UUP's belief that the IRA was responsible for Tuesday's bomb in Markethill, Co Armagh.
This indictment is on the agenda for Tuesday's plenary session and the two governments intend to present a procedural motion on Wednesday so the parties can move into substantive negotiations by Monday week.
However, senior UUP sources said the party was exploring the possibility of pursuing the indictment of Sinn Fein without having to attend Tuesday's plenary session. UUP sources said they would "not be bounced" into a plenary season by the Irish Government and they insisted no decision had yet been taken to participate in any meeting which involved Sinn Fein.
Other sources close to the talks process said the UUP was unlikely to take part in a plenary session involving Sinn Fein until September 29th, the week of the British Labour Party conference.
These sources said the fringe loyalist parties, which are now in a solid bloc with the UUP, favoured taking part in the plenary session next Tuesday but the UUP leadership had urged them to wait another week.
Meanwhile, the UUP claimed yesterday to have won a number of concessions in discussions with the British government, including Mr Blair, before the party's return to the talks process at Stormont yesterday. The UUP said both governments had now accepted the principle of consent would apply "to all aspects of the talks and any agreements emerging therefrom".
The UUP also said attempts to block the appointment of Gen John de Chastelain of Canada as chairman of the international body to oversee decommissioning had been overcome. There had been reports that the general's appointment was opposed by the Irish Government.
Both Dr Mowlam and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Burke, praised the UUP for rejoining the talks. But the Rev Ian Paisley said Mr Trimble's "inconsistency, confusion, feebleness and lack of principle are set to lead this province to political disaster".
However, SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, gave a "very strong welcome" to the unionists.
Meanwhile, the Press Association reported that "security chiefs" had confirmed the breakaway republican group, the Continuity IRA, was behind Tuesday's bomb at Markethill, Co Armagh.