The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, has challenged the IRA to honour its commitments on decommissioning and the DUP to demonstrate that it is prepared to share power with nationalists.
Mr Trimble, ahead of the review of the Belfast Agreement next month, expressed concern that Northern Ireland was facing an extended period of direct rule chiefly because of the failure of the IRA to end violence. He said he wanted to remind the Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, that in May 2000 the IRA made an unequivocal promise to put its arms beyond use.
"Moreover, it said that it would do this in a way 'to maximise public confidence'. It was on the basis of this promise that we entered the executive in June 2000. Despite three undisclosed instalments of the decommissioning process, the promise hasn't yet been kept," he added.
Mr Trimble, in speeches to the Strangford UUP association last night and to the south Belfast association on Thursday night, said of the Belfast Agreement that the IRA was "largely responsible for its collapse. It did not end violence".
He said there must be an immediate and total end to paramilitary activity. He feared a prolonged period of direct rule if the IRA did not act, which would be bad for society as well as for unionism.
"But it would be ironic if that was a result of the half-hearted, grudging and minimalist approach of the IRA to the agreement they claim to support."
The UUP leader also expressed suspicion over the DUP's capability to share power with nationalists. "Do the DUP fully realise and accept that stable institutions here can only be built on a willingness to share? That is what saying that agreement needs the support of unionists as well as nationalists means," he said.
"But most of the DUP rhetoric, especially their attacks on us for promoting and participating in an administration that requires the participation of both traditions, is opposed to sharing."
Meanwhile, Mr Adams met President Bush's new special adviser on Northern Ireland, Mr Mitchell Reiss in Washington on Thursday night. The Sinn Féin president was engaging in a series of meetings that included former US president Mr Jimmy Carter, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Edward Kennedy and other US politicians.
Mr Adams welcomed news that the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, is planning to meet the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, in London next week but like Mr Trimble he also questioned whether Dr Paisley and the DUP were prepared to share power.
"The difference now is a change in style by the DUP. They still remain against power- sharing, the Good Friday agreement and the type of equality and human rights ethos we require. It is good this meeting is taking place but the DUP still have a lot more to do," he said.
