WARNING ON BRITISH INTENTIONS

The nationalist SDLP has warned that there is no sign that the
British government will not cave into the hardline unionist DUP,
which is demanding major changes to the 1998 Good Friday peace
Agreement.

The SDLP's Alex Attwood said "government on DUP terms is a no go
area".

"British officials gave little reassurance that the core values
and practices of the Good Friday Agreement are still not up for
grabs," he said.

Mr Attwood expressed concern that, in what he described as "this
last lap of negotiation" that the British government was still
not saying if the DUP would commit to the proper working and
early development of north-south government.

"This is a key test for the DUP," Mr Attwood said.

After suggesting a deal was imminent on Tuesday, the Dublin and
London governments have made a more cautious assessment about
progress after admitting there are still "very difficult" issues
in bridging the gap between Sinn Fein and the DUP.

British Direct Ruler Paul Murphy referred to difficult and
tricky issues that remain in attempting to restore devolved
government.

But he said that there was "a mood of willingness and
understanding" among the parties, given that it was the second
anniversary of the suspension of the institutions in the North
following the 'Bogusgate' police raid at the Belfast Assembly.

"For two years, direct rule has been operating in Northern
Ireland," he said.

"But I want to shed that as soon as I possibly can so that local
politicians can take decisions locally."

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has said there is "still
a mountain to climb for Ian Paisley's party".

In an article this week, Mr Adams said: "Sinn Fein is leaving no
stone unturned in our effort to bring about a breakthrough.

"The big question arising from (British and Irish) ministers'
remarks is what they do if there is not a breakthrough. How
long must we wait for the DUP to come into the real world?."

Mr Adams said the DUP was seeking changes in the agreement which
would alter its fundamentals.

"The governments have ruled this out and I hope they are serious
about this. But I have concerns, not least because both
governments have tampered with the agreement already," he said.

"The suspension of the institutions is one example of this. The
power which a British minister now has, contrary to the
agreement, to take action against Irish political parties is
another."

The Sinn Fein president reiterated that the IRA was unlikely to
move for less than the Good Friday Agreement.


PSNI MAN STRUCK

A member of the PSNI was struck by a driver who failed to stop
at a British checkpoint close to the Border in South Armagh.

A car with a Southern registration sped North through the
checkpoint on the Concession Road in Crossmaglen, South Armagh,
striking and injuring the border guard.

The driver abandoned the car and made off in another vehicle,
which was reported stolen.