The Minister for Foreign Affairs, has urged "the greatest restraint on the part of all sides" following the murder of the loyalist Billy Wright and former Republican prisoner Mr Seamus Dillon.
The obscenities of recent days might well be designed to undermine the peace process, Mr Andrews stated yesterday, while stressing that "they must not be allowed to do so."
It was accepted in Government circles, nonetheless, that the weekend murders will add to Government concerns about the viability of the Northern talks when they resume on January 12th.
Mr Andrews will be meeting the Progressive Unionist Party leader, Mr David Ervine, and other PUP representatives, in the second week of January to consider their threat to pull out of the talks process because they perceive republicans are receiving more favourable treatment than loyalists from the two governments.
In two statements issued over the weekend, Mr Andrews deplored in the strongest possible terms the Wright murder. He also condemned the attack in Dungannon on Saturday night.
"I actively join with other political leaders in urging calm and restraint, and in emphasising that the only way forward is through the dialogue of the talks process", he said. He offered his deepest sympathy to all the bereaved and suffering families.