Blair: "Ambitious but achievable" target

Blair sets out his aims in Northern Ireland

The PM outlines his plans to avoid confrontation in Drumcree

"The peace train is leaving"

Blair Sets Target Date for Ulster Peace Talks

In a major statement to the Commons, Tony Blair said substantive peace talks on the future of Northern Ireland, should begin by September.

He also announced the setting up of an independent body to monitor the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons during the talks.

In his statement, Mr Blair said substantive negotiations should get underway by September at the latest and conclude by May. "This is an ambitious target but I have no doubt that it is achievable if all concerned put their minds to it," he said.

Announcing the Government's latest plans for a fresh start in the talks process, Mr Blair again warned that without an unequivocal IRA ceasefire, Sinn Fein would be barred from the talks.

A crowded Commons for the PM's statement

"There is no time to waste. The situation on the ground in Northern Ireland is fragile," said Mr Blair. "The settlement train is leaving, with or without Sinn Fein. If they want to join, it is absolutely clear what they have to do. I have dealt straight with them. I expect straight dealing in return. We and the other parties will not be waiting around for them."

The Prime Minister told the Commons that Sinn Fein had been told in an aide memoire on June 13, three days before the IRA's murder of two RUC officers in Lurgan, that the party would be considered for entry to a plenary session of the multi-party talks some six weeks after an unequivocal IRA ceasefire.

The Government called off talks with Sinn Fein after the killing of the RUC officers. Mr Blair described the murders as "despicable".

Hague: Pledges to maintain the bi-partisan approach

The Prime minister said negotiations on the surrender of weapons would take place parallel to the political talks. "There can be no question of trading guns for political concessions in all this," he pledged.

The decommissioning of weapons would be based on the recommendations made last year by a three-person international group, headed by the former US Senator George Mitchell. The key point made by the Mitchell report was that some decommissioning should take place during, rather than before or after, negotiations on a political settlement.

The Tory Leader William Hague confirmed his party hoped to continue the bipartisan approach of the last Parliament towards Northern Ireland issues. And he pressed Mr Blair to confirm "that there will be no question of substantive negotiations with Sinn Fein without early parallel decommissioning of illegal terrorist weapons".

The Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam said that the Government had given a lot, and the ball was now firmly in Sinn Fein's Court

Mo Mowlam on the way forward for Sinn Fein

The Prime Minister's initiative was welcomed by the SDLP leader John Hume, the man who helped engineer the initial IRA ceasefire with the Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams.

Mr Adams was also positive about the proposals. "We will give the proposals our fullest attention and consideration," he said.

"I remain deeply concerned that the decommissioning issue will become a block to the negotiation of the substantive issues further down the road," he warned, calling for further clarity and detail.

But there was concern from the Ulster Unionists' David Trimble at the offer of "another last chance" to Sinn Fein and the IRA.

And there was out-and-out hostility from the Democratic Unionists' Ian Paisley who said terrorists would gain access to talks without giving up one gun or one ounce of Semtex.

The initiative also came just hours after police in Belfast foiled "a major terrorist attack" apparently timed to coincide with Mr Blair's statement. They seized two fully-loaded high-powered AK-47s and one man was arrested in a follow-up security operation.

The murder scene

Meanwhile, a man has appeared in court charged with the murder of two police officers shot dead in Lurgan, County Armagh. Colin Francis Duffy, 29, from Drummamoe Gardens, Lurgan, went before a special court in Craigavon accused of murdering Constable Roland John Graham and Reserve Constable David Andrew Johnston on June 16.

The court was told by an RUC detective inspector that when arrested, charged and cautioned, Duffy denied both charges and objected to having been charged in the absence of a solicitor.

The RUC witness during cross-examination by defence counsel said he was aware that a formal complaint had been made because Duffy had been charged without a solicitor being present.