Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition

AHERN WARNS OF TALK OF EXCLUSION

06-07-99

The Irish premier, Bertie Ahern, has warned against talk of exclusion, as the political parties in Northern Ireland continue their consideration of the agreement reached by the Irish and British governments at Stormont last week. After meeting visiting American congressmen at government buildings, Mr Ahern, said the Good Friday Agreement was first and foremost an exercise in inclusive, collective politics and he wanted to emphasise the crucial importance of it being inclusive.

Ahern's comments follow calls by unionists for the exclusion of Sinn Fein from the Northern assembly, if the IRA fails to begin decommissioning. Both governments have stressed that it would be for the parties themselves to decide what should happen in the event of the assembly being suspended.

A Sinn Fein assembly member who is also one of the party's chief negotiators, has called on the British Government to give assurances that there will be no interference with the early release of paramilitary prisoners. Gerry Kelly said such a move would breach the Good Friday Agreement, and he said he wanted a guarantee from the Northern Secretary, Mo Mowlam.

Earlier, British government sources confirmed that future early releases of republican prisoners could be halted if the IRA fails to decommission its weapons, but Mr Kelly said the Agreement stated specifically that an independent commission was to deal with the releases.

The warning from Downing Street came as Tony Blair continued his efforts to persuade Ulster Unionists to accept the latest plan to break the deadlock, which has delayed the formation of the power-sharing executive. Mr Blair's spokesman said today that under the existing Northern Ireland Sentences Act, which allows for early releases, the Northern Secretary could review the release programme if paramilitary groups failed to co-operate with the decommissioning committee.

He added however that this would only affect future releases and not those who had already been let out on licence. Downing Street has also confirmed that draft legislation underpinning the plan to set up the North's executive by the middle of July will be published "within days". Mr Blair's spokesman said that a central feature of the legislation would be to set out the role to be played by General de Chastelain if commitments to decommission are not carried out.

The latest peace initiative was discussed by US President, Bill Clinton, and the Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble, during a telephone conversation last night. Mr Trimble has said that he cannot accept the deal unless he is assured that Sinn Fein would not be allowed to stay in the executive in the event of the IRA holding on to their weapons.

A White House spokesman said that the call was at Mr Trimble's request. The spokesman said that Mr Clinton urged Mr Trimble, along with the other pro-agreement parties, to continue their hard work at resolving the present deadlock.

Meanwhile, loyalists protesters have clashed with security forces at Drumcree last night. Six RUC officers were injured. The RUC said that two people were arrested for public order offences, after last night's skirmishes, during which loyalists threw stones and fireworks at security forces.

The Orange Order has criticised the Parades Commission decision to re-route the Ballynafeigh Orange District's march on the morning of the twelfth of July away from the Lower Ormeau area. The Commission says that the district will not be allowed into the mainly nationalist area because there hasn't been face to face talks between the Orangemen and local residents. However, the Lower Ormeau Concerned Community said it was relieved at the Commission's decision.

Also today, a controlled explosion has been carried out on a suspicious vehicle in north Belfast. Houses in the Oldpark/Deerpark Road area of North Belfast were evacuated after a caller - using a recognised codeword - said that a 300lb car bomb had been left outside the RUC station on Oldpark Road. The area remains sealed off while a security operation is ongoing.

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