The Sinn Fein chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, said his party would "vigorously challenge" any attempt to have it ejected from the talks.
Indicating the defence Sinn Fein might use in Dublin on Monday, he said that Sinn Fein had already called on those responsible to admit the killings.
If there were to be an indictment on Monday "let's see the incontrovertible evidence, and let's see an exact and impartial application of the Mitchell Principles". He said "There are absolutely no grounds for the expulsion of Sinn Fein from the talks. Sinn Fein is not involved in the killing of anyone". Mr McLaughlin also said "There is no prospect whatsoever, not the chance of a snowball in hell, of finding a democratic solution if our party is not part of finding that solution". Asked would Sinn Fein return to the talks if the party was suspended, for example, for a period of four weeks, Mr McLaughlin said the party "would look very carefully at all the options".
