McGuinness dismisses opposition

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Sinn Fein has held a second public meetings aimed at selling policing to its grassroots.

The party's Martin McGuinness addressed about 200 republicans in Lurgan.

He told them that Sinn Fein's opponents would be sorely disappointed if they expected hardline republicans to pose a serious challenge to his party.

The meeting comes ahead of next weekend's special conference or ard fheis where delegates will vote on supporting the police.

On Saturday, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams told a meeting in Toome policing could not just be left to unionists.

"I am asking for your permission to enter into another area of struggle," he told a 450-strong audience at the first of Sinn Fein's public meetings on policing.

"We do not want to leave policing to the unionists. We do not want to leave policing to the securocrats."

The West Belfast MP said he had made up his mind on the need for his party to get involved in policing six weeks ago.

Meetings are also planned for Galbally in County Tyrone, Newcastle, Newry, Belfast and Londonderry.

More than 2,000 republicans are then expected to vote at the ard fheis next Sunday.

The party's executive decided last Saturday to go ahead with the ard fheis.

It had earlier been put in doubt after Sinn Fein complained about the lack of a "positive response" from the DUP.

The British government has said Sinn Fein support for policing and the DUP's commitment to power-sharing are essential if devolution is to be restored in Northern Ireland.