The IRA and Sinn Fein have put up a strong front in the face of resignations from both organisations. They have strenuously played down any suggestions of serious division within the two bodies.
A cynical Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, meanwhile has described the republican rift as a "crude" ploy to strengthen Sinn Fein leverage at the talks.
The IRA, in a statement, admitted that "a small number of personnel" had resigned but that the organisation was "totally intact". In a separate statement the Sinn Fein chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, said that the "overwhelming majority" of Sinn Fein members in Co Louth were committed to the party and its leadership.
The IRA told the Belfast Irish News that reports that up to 20 leading members had left the organisation were "grossly exaggerated". It also said that the ceasefire was still holding.
"A few people in the recent past have left the IRA but the IRA is totally intact. We want to make the point that the IRA cessation is intact as well," the statement added. The organisation was united and enjoyed the support of its members on the ground, the IRA said.
Responding to the decision of 12 Co Louth members to resign from Sinn Fein, Mr McLaughlin regretted the move. But he said it should be noted that those who left the Sinn Fein meeting in Dundalk last Thursday represented the "views of a minority of those who attended the meeting".
"It is more important that the overwhelming majority of the members present reaffirmed their allegiance to the Sinn Fein leadership, and their support for our approach to the peace process. Sinn Fein is a vibrant, united and growing party, and these developments should be taken in context," he added.
"These resignations pose no threat to the Sinn Fein peace strategy. We will continue on the course which we have set," added Mr McLaughlin.
He complained of the "gross exaggeration" of the possible effect of the resignations by sections of the media which contrasted with the "deafening silence" which greeted the break-up of the Combined Loyalist Military Command.
"Some of those who have left are friends of mine and I am heartened that they have indicated that they have no intention of joining any other party. This leaves open the opportunity for the differences to be resolved and for them to rejoin the fold at a later date," he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Trimble has said that the resignations from the IRA and Sinn Fein were "amicable" and "choreographed", and that they could signal the beginning of the end of the IRA ceasefire.
"It is possible that the IRA are beginning to arrange the events that will lead to the ending of their ceasefire in order to provide themselves with a spurious justification," he added.
The resignations, he said, were a "carefully scripted operation to make it look as though there were divisions" with the intention of increasing the IRA's leverage on government and strengthening the bargaining power of Sinn Fein. "If there was a real split in the IRA then we would see it evidenced more clearly in the way that real splits have occurred within that organisation before."
The UUP leader also maintained that the fact that Semtex was used in a bomb planted by the Continuity IRA in Derry last week indicated that the IRA might be "contracting out operations". It was clear that "IRA equipment is leaking into the Continuity Army Council", added Mr Trimble.
The Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, said there was no evidence that the resignations would affect the IRA ceasefire. Sinn Fein had pledged that it was still committed to the peace process, she added.