Blair gives Sinn Fein one more chance

The Prime Minister talking at JFK airport

Blair Offers Sinn Fein Final Chance

On Friday, the Prime Minister said it was the moment of decision for Sinn Fein and the IRA to be part of the peace process in Northern Ireland. He'll put his plans before the Commons next week.

Speaking on the tarmac at JFK airport in New York, after flying in by Concorde en route to an international summit in Denver, Mr Blair said, "We were making every single effort we could to try and make sure the talks process was inclusive of all the parties including Sinn Fein. Monday's killings were not just evil in themselves but they came at the very time when people knew we were trying to push this process forward. "

Mr Blair claimed that the atmosphere had changed on both sides of the Atlantic since the Lurgan murders.

He said, "I really believe a moment of decision is coming for Sinn Fein and the IRA as to whether they want to be any part of a forward process that is going to lead to a lasting settlement for peace."

Mr Blair, when asked if he would be seeking to mobilise American public opinion, said: "Yes, I think there has really been a great change that has happened here in public opinion as a result of the Lurgan killings. People know not merely why the killing is wrong, but the fact it occurred at the very time when they could see a new British Government was trying to take steps towards peace."

He said what was so important about coming to the US was the fact that the American people could see that any money they gave to Sinn Fein "ends up in policemen being killed on the streets of Northern Ireland".

Commons Statement

But he will insist that, though he would prefer Sinn Fein/IRA to call a ceasefire to enable participation in fresh talks, if necessary the peace train will leave without them, Government sources said.

Senior Government sources were making it plain today that Mr Blair might try to seek an initiative based largely on the SDLP and Unionist parties if necessary, though he would much prefer to involve Sinn Fein in talks, provided a ceasefire of a meaningful kind had been declared.

The President's support is crucial

The Prime Minister will use two bilateral meetings with Mr Clinton at this weekend's Group of Seven summit in Denver to try to ensure that he does nothing to undermine the British approach.

Mr Blair will urge the President to do all he can to persuade Sinn Fein that the only route to peace if via a ceasefire and talks. But he will also urge Mr Clinton to make any visible contact between the US administration and Sinn Fein at a low level so as not to give them any further political credibility until they sign up for peace.

Meanwhile, a leading US Irish Nationalist, Pete King, said he was sending "a strong signal from their strongest supporters" to the IRA for fear that they could destroy the peace process.

Mr King said, "This is a defining moment - it really is make or break time. If there is not an IRA ceasefire now, the whole peace process could go up, be destroyed." He added, "We are worried about the risk of a total civil war breaking out any time in the next few weeks." In the past Mr King has argued that the IRA's use of force has been "justified".