Sinn Fein has said there is a slim chance of the Mitchell review succeeding and that any possible deal must be within the terms of the Belfast Agreement.
Speaking at Stormont yesterday, the party's chief whip, Mr Alex Maskey, said: "While we believe there is a slim chance of this review being successful, it has to be very, very firmly rooted in the Good Friday agreement.".
Sinn Fein's Assembly party met at Stormont yesterday. There were no details of what was discussed. All the parties refused to disclose any details of the negotiations. The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, who has been recuperating after his recent illness, joined his party delegation at Stormont yesterday. Mr Hume has undergone four operations in two months. He chatted to reporters but did not give any interviews. Mr Maskey said his party was frustrated that there had been no breakthrough. "This review should have been short, sharp and focused," he said. "It is now into its ninth week. Our position is very, very well known. Republicans are committed to the Good Friday agreement."
The senior UUP negotiator, Mr Michael McGimpsey, said his party still believed the review could succeed but stressed that the decommissioning issue had to be resolved.
"We appreciate the difficulties the republican movement has over the issues of devolution and disarmament but this is an issue that cannot be avoided. It has to be resolved.
"We believe there is still a chance this review will work and we will continue to engage positively in the process. The Ulster Unionist Party remains absolutely committed to making this process a success and to the full implementation of the agreement."
It has been disclosed that Senator Mitchell secretly met the UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, a senior party negotiator, Sir Reg Empey, the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, and the party's negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, at a Belfast hotel on Sunday. The talks are to continue today.