SINN FEIN RALLY BEHIND MARCH 10
Sinn Fein rally behind March 10
McLaughlin to tell City Half crowd deadline must be met
By Martina Purdy
Political Correspondent
SINN Fein's Mitchel McLaughlin is to address a rally in Belfast tomorrow to demand the March 10 deadline for the formation of the power-sharing Executive be met.
Thousands of republicans are set to take part in the rally at Belfast City Hall, as the row over decommissioning continues to threaten political progress.
Despite attempts by London and Dublin to find a way around the arms impasse, neither Ulster Unionists nor Sinn Fein show any sign of compromise.
A meeting between Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern on the fringes of a European summit in Germany yesterday was described as "useful" by Mr Blair.
He said both premiers had agreed it was important to "keep up pressure for all aspects of the Agreement to be implemented".
Mr Ahern said it was up to the governments to "cajole" people to co-operate with the decommissioning body.
SDLP Assembly member Sean Farren said the decommissioning body headed by General John de Chastelain cannot provide assurance on the arms issue without a "clear indication that the process of decommissioning has begun".
An Irish Times poll today showed support for the Taoiseach's position that the Executive could not work without decommissioning.
Some 45% of voters endorsed this position, compared to 39% who did not.
Amid claims from Sinn Fein that a gesture on arms would destabilise the republican movement, Francis Mackey, chairman of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, held a press conference.
He was arrested on Monday and released without charge on Wednesday as part of a probe into the Omagh bombing.
Mr Mackey said he was an innocent man and accused the authorities of trying to vilify republicans and stifle criticism of the Agreement.
Meanwhile, SDLP delegates were gathering in Cookstown to formally select party leader and MEP John Hume as their candidate for the European election in June.
McLaughlin to tell City Half crowd deadline must be met
By Martina Purdy
Political Correspondent
SINN Fein's Mitchel McLaughlin is to address a rally in Belfast tomorrow to demand the March 10 deadline for the formation of the power-sharing Executive be met.
Thousands of republicans are set to take part in the rally at Belfast City Hall, as the row over decommissioning continues to threaten political progress.
Despite attempts by London and Dublin to find a way around the arms impasse, neither Ulster Unionists nor Sinn Fein show any sign of compromise.
A meeting between Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern on the fringes of a European summit in Germany yesterday was described as "useful" by Mr Blair.
He said both premiers had agreed it was important to "keep up pressure for all aspects of the Agreement to be implemented".
Mr Ahern said it was up to the governments to "cajole" people to co-operate with the decommissioning body.
SDLP Assembly member Sean Farren said the decommissioning body headed by General John de Chastelain cannot provide assurance on the arms issue without a "clear indication that the process of decommissioning has begun".
An Irish Times poll today showed support for the Taoiseach's position that the Executive could not work without decommissioning.
Some 45% of voters endorsed this position, compared to 39% who did not.
Amid claims from Sinn Fein that a gesture on arms would destabilise the republican movement, Francis Mackey, chairman of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, held a press conference.
He was arrested on Monday and released without charge on Wednesday as part of a probe into the Omagh bombing.
Mr Mackey said he was an innocent man and accused the authorities of trying to vilify republicans and stifle criticism of the Agreement.
Meanwhile, SDLP delegates were gathering in Cookstown to formally select party leader and MEP John Hume as their candidate for the European election in June.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0567
Published Date: 27-Feb-99
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