All parties in the peace process must prevent a political vacuum developing over the coming months, the US special envoy to Northern Ireland has warned.
Mr Richard Haass, who was in the North today for talks with political leaders, said all concerned "came awfully close" last month to achieving groundbreaking moves, but warned of the dangers of the current "hiatus" now that Assembly elections will not be held as planned.
"They say nature abhors a vacuum. It is important that the political process fills that space," he said.
He insisted republicans would have to make a clearer commitment of an end to all paramilitary activity by the IRA. Their capacity to engage in violence was, Mr Haass argued, incompatible with a democracy.
But he said it was incumbent on all parties to the peace process to build the necessary trust and confidence for Assembly elections to take place and the devolved power-sharing institution to be restored.
"The situation has not reached a plateau but I am comfortable enough to say let's leave things until to September.
"What I am noticing is that there seems to be a consensus that we ought not to leave it to stew a while."
Mr Haas, who was due to leave his post in the Bush administration to take up a new role with a New York based think-tank, said it was not clear-cut whether he would be moving.
He said he intended to discuss with President Bush and US Secretary of State Colin Powell what role he could play in helping move the Northern Ireland peace process forward.
PA