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DUP in 'useful' talks with Blair | |
(9 minutes later) | |
A DUP delegation led by party leader Ian Paisley have held what has been described as a "very useful" meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair. | |
Mr Paisley was accompanied by Nigel Dodds, Peter Robinson and Lord Morrow to the Downing Street talks. | |
The DUP leader said they discussed "very many things that cause us great trouble and concern". | |
"The clock has ticked and we've had no real progress from the IRA/Sinn Fein," he told a news conference. | |
"Now they must put their money where their mouth is and they must move." | |
Mr Dodds, the North Belfast MP, said it had been a "useful exchange". | |
"We concentrated on the delivery from Sinn Fein of the things that they need to do and the delivery from government on the things that they need to do," he said. | |
"We pressed them very strongly of the need for both of those people to get on with it, because time is clearly of the essence." | |
Restoring devolution | |
Ahead of the meeting, the party said it wanted to discuss several outstanding issues with Mr Blair - including policing and an economic package. | |
Mr Blair met Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern on Monday to discuss the timetable set out at the St Andrews talks for restoring devolution. | Mr Blair met Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern on Monday to discuss the timetable set out at the St Andrews talks for restoring devolution. |
Mr Ahern also raised the issue of collusion between British security forces and loyalist paramilitaries. | Mr Ahern also raised the issue of collusion between British security forces and loyalist paramilitaries. |
Last week, an Irish parliamentary report found there was security force collusion in a series of loyalist bombings and killings in the 1970s. | Last week, an Irish parliamentary report found there was security force collusion in a series of loyalist bombings and killings in the 1970s. |