Trimble sets deadline to end violence by militias

David Trimble, the Ulster Unionist Party leader and First Minister, issued the British and Irish governments last night with a deadline of the end of the month to propose how they would deal with paramilitary violence.

He said: "They have to recreate this confidence and do it quick. If we don't see significant progress on this by [the British] Government in the course of the end of this month before Parliament goes into recess, then in the absence of an actual clear move by the Government there is going to be a very serious problem indeed."

Mr Trimble refused to spell out what might happen in the absence of any movement.

Sinn Fein's chairman, Mitchel McLaughlin, criticised Mr Trimble for setting another deadline. He said: "We have had deadlines in the past. It now appears we are going to have red lines. None of that has resolved the issues.

"It's difficult to reconcile his stated commitment to the Good Friday Agreement with this brinkmanship ... The solution is for political leaders to work together."

Tony Blair spent much of yesterday in talks at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland aimed at calming fears of a crisis in the peace process.

Surrounded by tight security, Mr Blair held discussions with the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, Ulster Unionists, Sinn Fein and other parties backing the Good Friday Agreement.

The talks were held at the instigation of Mr Trimble, who is urging Mr Blair to act against republicans whom he claims have breached the IRA ceasefire and the Agreement.

Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein's president, rejected calls from Unionists for his party to be thrown out of government: "Our participation in government is because we have a mandate," he said. "The issue of course of armed groups has to be tackled. How do we do that? We do that by coming together and working together, by setting an example by implementing the Agreement."

While the Prime Minister agrees that neither republicans nor loyalists should be involved in both politics and terrorism, he resists Mr Trimble's calls for sanctions against Sinn Fein ministers, including their expulsion from government.

Like Mr Trimble, however, the authorities are unhappy that the IRA has been active in Colombia and in disturbances on the streets of Belfast. But the expulsion of Sinn Fein would mean the end of the peace process and has been ruled out by London and Dublin, who regard such a move as turning a potential crisis into guaranteed meltdown.

Most of those concerned are focusing on getting through the disturbances of the marching season with as little trouble as possible. The widespread sense is that other longer-term concerns can be addressed in the autumn.

Opinion differs on whether Mr Trimble's evident anxiety arises from a concern to protect democratic principles or, more prosaically, because he is vulnerable to challenges from anti-Agreement Unionists. He has shown signs of considerable stress recently – losing his temper and bellowing at his questioner in a routine BBC interview.

His suggestion that his party might merge with the British Conservatives was received in the ranks with something close to stupefaction.

It is, however, accepted that Mr Trimble is in trouble. His principal rivals, Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists, have gained much support in recent elections and are breathing heavily down his neck. Within his own party, meanwhile, Mr Trimble has lost ground as loyalist support for the Good Friday Agreement has steadily drained away.