(26 Jan 1998) English/Nat
There are now fewer negotiators at the Northern Ireland peace talks in London on Monday.
The political wing of a pro-British paramilitary group has withdrawn from talks after admitting to killing three Catholics recently.
Leaders of the Ulster Democratic Party (U-D-P) announced the withdrawal as Irish and British officials considered expelling them from the talks.
They represent the outlawed Ulster Defence Association (U-D-A) which admitted on Friday that they had killed at least three of the eight Catholics murdered since Christmas.
The U-D-A's admission directly violated a cardinal requirement for the participants in the talks - that they must "actively oppose" and "renounce" the use of violence.
The Ulster Democratic Party (U-D-P), the main pro-British Protestant party in Northern Ireland, pulled out of the peace talks in London on Monday.
The reason?
The outlawed paramilitary group it represents, the U-D-A -- and another it also has close links to, the Ulster Freedom Fighters, or U-F-F -- have admitted to some of the sectarian killings that have plagued the province since Christmas.
Britain's top minister for the province made the announcement.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We, along with the Irish government decided today that the U-D-P was no longer eligible to participate in the talks. The U-F-F have themselves admitted responsibility to a series of appalling murders which had created such fear on the streets of Northern Ireland. The evidence before us was beyond doubt that the Mitchell principles of non-violence had clearly been breached."
SUPER CAPTION: Mo Mowlam, UK Northern Ireland Secretary
Mowlam said that there was still the concern that this move will destabilise the peace process.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Anybody leaving the talks destabilises it. We've all argued that it should be inclusive and anything that destabilises the process does not help. Actions outside the talks affect the actions inside the talks."
SUPER CAPTION: Mo Mowlam, UK Northern Ireland Secretary
But the chairman of the talks, former U-S Senator George Mitchell, still believes and agreement can be reached and by the May deadline.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I think it's not possible to be any more precise than May, but I remain convinced that an agreement can be reached by then, or possibly even before then, once there is a clear determination on the part of all the participants to move to that final stage. And I hope very much that that process will begin in earnest tomorrow."
SUPER CAPTION: Senator George Mitchell, chairman, peace talks
But U-D-P leader Gary McMichael insisted his party was still committed to the peace process.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"U-D-P is firmly, absolutely, committed to the Mitchell Principles and the principles of democracy. What we have done during this current crisis is to go to extreme lengths in order to exert our influence to end violence where it emanated from."
SUPER CAPTION: Gary McMichael, leader, Ulster Democratic Party
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said during a break in the negotiations that if the I-R-A had behaved in a similar way to those loyalist groups, the British and Irish governments would have swiftly punished his party.
Sinn Fein was admitted to talks when the I-R-A declared a cease-fire six months ago and would expect to remain even if the I-R-A resumed violence.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein Leader
But before the talks began, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said that the British government had to make the decision.
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