SEVEN major Northern organisations in the business, economic and trade union fields have jointly invited representatives of all the political parties engaged in the inter party peace talks to a meeting next Monday.
The organisations include the Confederation of British Industry, the Institute of Directors, the Northern Ireland Committee of ICTU and the Northern Ireland Economic Council.
The seven bodies said in a statement yesterday that it was proposed to use the meeting to discuss the significance for business prospects and employment of stability and a successful outcome to the talks process.
They also wished to explore whether all the interests taking part in the meeting "can be mutually supportive in the achievement of these aims".
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrat leader, Mr Paddy Ashdown, in Belfast last night, urged the people of Northern Ireland to stop peace being hijacked by extremists. He said the great majority of people in Northern Ireland "must now speak with such a voice for peace that sectarianism, whether of politics or the gun, is forced to listen".
"Do not wait for Northern Ireland's political leaders. They have not risen to the challenge of peace so far and they will not do so now - unless you make them. And do not wait for Westminster. I don't think London can easily find its way out of this blind alley. Unless you help them."
Mr Ashdown was speaking at a dinner in honour of the Alliance Party leader, Lord Alderdice, to mark his elevation to the House of Lords. He said Lord Alderdice would he a "cool, fair, rational and courageous voice" at Westminster where "the loudest Northern Ireland voices are all too often the narrow voices of conflict and sectarianism".