UNIONIST politicians have reacted cautiously to plans to hold peace talks in South Africa. They stressed that if they attended they would not be involved in direct negotiations with Sinn Fein.
The DUP secretary, Mr Nigel Dodds, said his party had not received an invitation, but there was "no question of us talking to Sinn Fein".
The Ulster Unionist Party is believed to have received an invitation. Sources said there would be no direct contact with Sinn Fein if the party accepted.
The UK Unionist Party leader, Mr Robert McCartney, expressed scepticism about the idea and its timing, although he stressed he was not aware of the final format for the conference.
"It would be impossible to go to South Africa and have discussions which directly or indirectly involved Sinn Fein and then come back to Northern Ireland and explain rationally why discussions could not take place here on the same basis," he said.
"It is interesting that this proposal has surfaced so near the start of multiparty talks at Stormont on June 3rd. I wonder if it is all to establish a precedent to allow Sinn Fein into negotiations here."
Mr McCartney said no comparisons could be made between the peace processes in South Africa and Northern Ireland. "In South Africa, a majority of people were denied their rights and the peace process focused on handing over power to the majority.
"Northern Ireland is a democracy, everybody has the vote and indeed we have the most draconian employment and equality legislation in Western Europe.
The UK Unionist leader questioned the wisdom of further internationalising the Northern Ireland problem. "We have an American Senator, a former Finish Prime Minister and a former Canadian general involving themselves in talks and the decommissioning issue. We don't need a South African contribution."
The Ulster Democratic and Progressive Unionist parties are understood to have decided to accept the invitation and have already chosen their delegations.
Sinn Fein refused to comment on the matter, while the SDLP confirmed that it had received an invitation which it was considering. However, a party spokesman said the whole proposal had been "grossly exaggerated" by the media.
The Alliance Party is understood to have accepted its invitation, but the party refused to comment yesterday.