Bid to revive N. Ireland deal

A bomb blamed on the Real IRA damaged the BBC's London offices last week

LONDON, England -- Talks aimed at restarting the stalled peace process in Northern Ireland will be held between the British and Irish premiers on Thursday.

Ireland's Prime Minister Bertie Ahern is delaying a trip to Japan for the talks, officials in Dublin said.

London and Dublin are seeking to forge a deal to stabilise the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.

"We would hope that we can move this current phase of the negotiations successfully on," an Irish government spokesman said.

The goal is a formula for a start weapons decommissioning by the Irish Republican Army, creation of a new police service for Northern Ireland, and cuts in the military presence.

A spokesman for UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said the Belfast talks would be held first on a bilateral basis leading, hopefully, to round-table meetings.

"There is a real determination to make progress on the outstanding issues but there is no guarantee of outcome," he said.

Ahern is scheduled to meet Blair before both hold meetings with individual parties.

He had been due to leave Thursday for Japan on a visit to strengthen political and economic links. "He is postponing departure for about 24 hours," an Irish official said.

Ahern is due next week to fly from Japan to the United States for St. Patrick's Day, including a Washington meeting with new President George W. Bush on March 16, the day before the feast day of Ireland's patron saint.

On Tuesday, Ahern said a stopgap formula was needed to keep the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement afloat over coming months.

"What I do think is possible if everyone puts in the required effort ... is that we could get a process that would allow us manage those issues over perhaps a difficult summer," he told parliament in Dublin.

In London security chiefs were braced for more bombings by dissidents hostile to the landmark accord after Sunday's car bombing by the Real IRA group outside the BBC's London offices.

Blair's office said the fresh peace impetus was not a response to the BBC bomb attack.

Reuters contributed to this report.

UK: Bomb aimed at peace process
March 5, 2001
Real IRA blamed for BBC blast
March 4, 2001
One injured in UK explosion
February 21, 2001
N.Ireland talks continue despite bomb
January 23, 2001
Three arrested in Omagh bomb investigation
October 17, 2000

Northern Ireland Office
Metropolitan Police: Anti-Terrorist Branch

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