Paisley: No concessions

Paisley Warns Government over Northern Ireland Talks

The DUP leader said he had not budged from his stance of refusing to take part in talks on September 15 which will include Sinn Fein if the IRA ceasefire holds.

But Ms Mowlam said she still hoped to work towards inclusive all-party talks and added: "If I have learned one thing in the last 100 days, it's that you don't admit defeat until it stares you in the face, because there is always a chance for movement in Northern Ireland."

Mr Paisley later told reporters that he had presented the Northern Ireland Secretary with a four-page document setting out his party's proposals for restructuring the talks. He dismissed the present talks as "dead in the water" because they could not produce anything acceptable to the majority of people.

The DUP proposals for the talks "would not force any member to sit down with IRA people", said Mr Paisley.

Asked if he would refuse to sit down at any stage with Sinn Fein, the DUP leader replied: "That's right. That is our mandate." He also rejected the notion of 'proximity talks' -- with the parties in separate rooms.

Unless the basis of the talks was changed, the idea was going nowhere, Mr Paisley insisted. He warned: "If they don't change the basis of it, then they are only digging their own grave, because the framework document is not acceptable to any unionist."

The talks between the Government and DUP leader come 24 hours after discussions between Northern Ireland Office ministers and Sinn Fein.