The Ulster Unionist Party in particular and Sinn Fein were under intense pressure late last night from the British and Irish governments to shift position and find compromise on the formation of an executive and decommissioning. Sinn Fein and the UUP were locked in a battle of mutual recrimination, with each side accusing the other of refusing to make the necessary concessions. Greatest pressure appeared to be on Mr David Trimble and his Assembly party after Sinn Fein on Wednesday night put forward a set of proposals that should, according to various talks sources, allow for IRA decommissioning by May 2000, possibly starting within three to six months.
The British Prime Minister, who spoke of "seismic shifts" in political thinking, last night addressed the UUP Assembly party in an apparent attempt to persuade them of the need for movement on their demand for prior or simultaneous IRA decommissioning. According to talks sources, Mr Blair was applauded.
Throughout yesterday's fourth day of negotiations, which resumed around midday, UUP politicians complained they could not place trust in Sinn Fein's proposals because Sinn Fein would not commit them to paper.
A written pledge on decommissioning at this stage could cause difficulties with the republican heartland, republican sources indicated, and they wanted assurances that if they "jumped" on disarmament Mr Trimble would simultaneously "jump" on the formation of an executive.
"We are not putting anything on paper at this stage because if we did it could be misrepresented or used against us," said a Sinn Fein spokesman.
During the day UUP politicians such as Mr John Taylor, Mr Ken Maginnis and Mr Dermot Nesbitt "competed" with Sinn Fein politicians such as Mr Gerry Kelly, Ms Bairbre de Brun and Mr Alex Maskey in press, radio and television interviews.
Mr Taylor, the UUP deputy leader, conceded that Sinn Fein had made oral proposals. "But you can't negotiate on the expectation of a verbal commitment. You must put your proposals in writing," he said.
Mr Mark Durkan of the SDLP said: "Last year the hand of history was upon us. This year it's time it felt somebody's collar."
Mr Blair's official spokesman indicated there would be public incredulity if an agreement was not fashioned based on what was already on the table. "When people see how close it is, if it fails, they will simply not believe it," he added.
