Sinn Féin will endorse Northern Ireland's new police service if British Prime Minister Tony Blair honours pledges he made to toughen legislation, it was claimed today.
As party chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, urged Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble to be a "champion" of the Belfast Agreement, he spelt out the conditions for backing the force.
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Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
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So far Sinn Féin has refused to join the Policing Board, which governs the Police Service of Northern Ireland, insisting the Patten reform proposals have not been fully introduced.
But Mr McLaughlin said: "We have now secured a commitment from Tony Blair that he will introduce amending legislation that will bring the policing arrangements up to the minimum threshold of Patten.
"That will be a significant development and it will be a challenge that Sinn Féin will rise to when and if that happens."
The Assembly Member for Foyle stressed his party's desire to be able to take part in the new policing arrangements.
In a direct challenge to Mr Blair, he told BBC Radio Ulster: "When and if he gets round to making these necessary amendments to the legislation, and producing and delivering on his commitment to Patten, then Sinn Féin will step up to the mark.
"We will not shirk the very difficult challenge that will pose for us."
Mr McLaughlin's pledge came as Mr Trimble prepared to face another crunch meeting of his party's ruling council next month, to discuss whether to continue in government with Sinn Féin.
Anti-agreement members have lodged a petition containing the necessary 60 signatures at party headquarters to call for an emergency meeting of the 860-strong body to debate the issue.
But as the move put the Belfast Agreement under more strain, Mr McLaughlin insisted there was enough support within unionism to withstand the pressure.
"David Trimble is a unionist leader, he should act as a champion of the Agreement that he signed and that they voted for," he said.
PA