DUP leader Ian Paisley has said there is no obligation on him to agree to the devolution of policing powers by May 2008, a key Sinn Féin demand.
Accusing Sinn Féin of trying to renegotiate the St Andrews Agreement, Dr Paisley said there was "not a line" in the agreement "about saying that on a certain date [ the British government] must hand over these powers".
He said: "There is only in the St Andrews Agreement an idea, an aspiration of the two governments that they would like it done."
Sinn Féin is due to hold another ardchomhairle meeting tomorrow in Dublin to consider its policing policy.
Senior voices within the DUP remain vehemently opposed to sharing justice powers in a restored Stormont Executive with republicans.
The SDLP has continued to criticise Sinn Féin for its stance on the shift of intelligence-gathering responsibility to the British intelligence service MI5.
Prime minister Tony Blair told the House of Commons on Wednesday there would be no MI5 involvement in civic policing.
However, SDLP leader Mark Durkan said Sinn Féin and the British government were colluding to cover up the truth about MI5 taking over "intelligence policing".
Speaking after a meeting with security minister Paul Goggins, Mr Durkan said: "We warned the British government that their plans for an MI5 takeover were damaging to stability here and that we could not agree with them."
Referring to Sinn Féin's policing spokesman, Mr Durkan continued: "Gerry Kelly says that [ Wednesday's] statement is 'a very major step closer' to getting MI5 out of the North. But the truth about the Blair/Adams statement was confirmed by Paul Goggins. He confirmed that MI5 are taking over intelligence policing. He confirmed that it will include domestic terrorism. He confirmed that Nuala O'Loan will not be able to investigate MI5."