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Sinn Fein backs police conference Sinn Fein backs police conference
(30 minutes later)
The Sinn Fein leadership has voted for a special party conference in January on the issue of republican support for policing in Northern Ireland.The Sinn Fein leadership has voted for a special party conference in January on the issue of republican support for policing in Northern Ireland.
Speaking after talks in Dublin, party president Gerry Adams said the meeting would be held if the two governments and the DUP gave a positive response.Speaking after talks in Dublin, party president Gerry Adams said the meeting would be held if the two governments and the DUP gave a positive response.
More than two-thirds of the executive voted in favour of the meeting.More than two-thirds of the executive voted in favour of the meeting.
Sinn Fein support for policing would be viewed as removing one of the main obstacles to restoring devolution.Sinn Fein support for policing would be viewed as removing one of the main obstacles to restoring devolution.
Earlier Mr Adams said: "I think what I am putting forward is the right thing to do. However a date for the meeting, or ard fheis, has not yet been confirmed.
"I will move all I can to meet all the concerns of the people involved, but this is me and our core leadership saying this is the right thing to do and this is the time to do it." 'Co-operate fully'
Speaking after the six-hour meeting, Mr Adams said the debate was "frank, comradely and robust".
"I put a motion to the party leadership and the party leadership endorsed that by more than the two thirds majority," he said.
"I am totally wedded to the idea of every single person who wants to be part of this debate, being part of the debate, because it's about the future, it's about the type of Ireland we want to see."
Sinn Fein said the motion put forward would include a commitment to "actively encourage everyone in the community to co-operate fully with the police services in tackling crime in all areas and actively supporting all the criminal justice institutions".
The British and Irish governments have named 7 March as the date for fresh assembly elections, with a new executive expected to be up and running by 26 March.The British and Irish governments have named 7 March as the date for fresh assembly elections, with a new executive expected to be up and running by 26 March.
Talks aimed at restoring the assembly and its executive have been taking place since the St Andrews Agreement negotiations in November.Talks aimed at restoring the assembly and its executive have been taking place since the St Andrews Agreement negotiations in November.