The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, has welcomed the Northern Secretary's statement that the IRA ceasefire was still in place. He said he believed that, despite the death of Mr Charles Bennett (22), the only sensible and logical thing to do was to continue with the peace process.
Mr Bennett's body was found bound and gagged on waste ground in west Belfast last month. Dr Mo Mowlam has ruled that while she believes the IRA was involved she feels its ceasefire has not broken down.
"It is very difficult for many people, including myself, to see further deaths on our streets when we believed we had achieved peace. However, we must not allow those who have never believed in the work we have been involved in to knock us off course," said Mr Hume.
He said while peace was "imperfect" we could not allow the process to be derailed.
"Charles Bennett's father called on all politicians to move the process on and not allow the death of his son to derail the whole process. We must listen very carefully to his comments."
He acknowledged that there might be further setbacks as politicians prepared for next month's review.
"Obviously, there are going to be setbacks like the tragic and deplorable murder of young Charles Bennett . . . but what is the alternative to trying to build peace? How can we build a society where we leave the gun behind us if we don't continue in the process which has yielded so much?
"We have had a difficult setback. Another family has had their lives shattered. But we must continue our difficult work to make sure we leave such terrible events behind us for ever."
The Bennett family declined to comment on Dr Mowlam's decision yesterday.
Mr Seamus Close, deputy leader of the Alliance party, said paramilitaries were being allowed to dictate to politicians. He called for a clear statement from the political parties, including those with paramilitary links, that they adhered to the Mitchell principles.
"There can be no more verbal gymnastics or equivocation on this issue. It is time for democrats, not terrorists, to define the boundaries of right and wrong."
Mr Vincent McKenna, of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Bureau, said Dr Mowlam should now resign. "The Secretary of State's decision to deal with the murder of Charles Bennett as internal housekeeping to the IRA has given the green light for further murder and mutilation by all of the terrorist organisations who are supposed to be on ceasefire."
The chairman of the Workers' Party, Mr Tom French, said: "What is needed from all the participants of this process is a lot more consensus and less tribal trench politics."