Nationalists reject Blair election decision

Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision to postpone assembly elections in Northern Ireland have been roundly criticised by nationalists across Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he disagreed with Mr Blair's decision, saying it would cause more problems for the process than it solved.

Mr Ahern claimed that recent statements by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams had brought matters to "a new level of clarity", however he said that while he did not agree with, nor endorse the Prime Minister's move, the strength of partnership between the two governments would endure.

Gerry Adams meanwhile strongly criticised the decision and said it was clear that in the end the Prime Minister had chosen Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble's view ahead of that of the Taoiseach.

Mr Adams added that he believed the IRA statement should now be published.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan also rejected Mr Blair's view that Mr Adams had not given enough clarification on the IRA's position and said it was still within the remit of what was asked for by the governments and that it would be untenable to reject it as wide of the mark.

DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson claimed the move was intended to save the electoral skin of the UUP leader and his party and that demonstrated the political cowardice of the Ulster Unionist Party and is an affront to democracy.

He said: "They have spent weeks pleading for the election to be put off. It is perfectly clear that David Trimble, the Ulster Unionist Party and Tony Blair saw that the unionist electorate would reject the UUP. Only because they feared the DUP becoming the largest party in Northern Ireland have the government decided to prevent people having their say."

However, Mr Trimble said he believed the Prime Minister's decision to postpone elections had made a solution to the problems in the peace process more likely.

The Ulster Unionist leader said: "If the Prime Minister had allowed the republican movement to face him down, then we would be less likely to solve the underlying problems, less likely to ever see the Assembly back functioning again.

"I actually think, paradoxically, the decision brings the point at which we have stability and the Assembly and Executive functioning, I think it brings them closer.''

Mr Trimble said the postponement of the election became inevitable when the IRA statement on its future intent failed to make clear its commitment to solely democratic means.

He accused the republican movement of taking advantage of his party's courage and said it would have to reconsider its approach to the peace process.

Mr Blair confirmed yesterday that elections for the Northern Ireland Assembly will now take place in early Autumn but that no date had yet been set.

(MB)