Adams urges Paisley to share power with Sinn Fein

Location: Kincora

GERRY Adams last night threw down the gauntlet to DUP leader Ian Paisley to share power with him after Sinn Fein's historic decision to back policing in the North.

Mr Adams secured the overwhelming backing of party rank and file by about 10 to one and then put it up to Mr Paisley to meet him half-way in a new deal to secure lasting peace.

The momentous move means the party changing its traditional stance against the police force and thus bringing the north of Ireland closer to a power-sharing deal than at any stage since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

But such a deal is still dependent on the DUP accepting that the decision means Republicans are fully on board with support for the justice system.

Last night, Mr Paisley signalled he is sticking by his "deeds rather than words" stance. He said he wanted Sinn Fein to show visible support for the police service. That meant, he said, telling police about crime, and taking seats on accountability bodies like the Policing Board and district policing partnerships.

Anything less than full implementation of Sinn Fein's commitments would render yesterday's meeting valueless, he said.

"The DUP has forced Sinn Fein to recognise support for the police and the rule of law as an issue of paramount importance for which there can be no other way. Sinn Fein must now walk this road," Mr Paisley said.

Earlier, Mr Adams had been jeered as he went into the RDS by a group of protesters who accused him of selling out to the British government.

But, seven hours of debate later, he carried the day and described the yes vote as "one of the most important decisions in the recent history of our country". As delegates stood to listen to his "victory" speech, he told them: "The decision we have reached is truly historic. We can use this decision to advance our struggle."

He called for a positive response from unionists.

The ard fheis speeches raged over the history of Republicans' antipathy towards the police. But, from an early stage, it was apparent that the tide was flowing massively in favour of the leadership position.

It will now be left to the Ard Comhairle to decide on the timing of when the decision will be implemented.

The result will be a major boost for the Irish and British governments as they try to get the DUP to agree to the restoration of the institutions on March 26, following March 7 elections to the Assembly.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair at Downing Street tomorrow to assess the ramifications of the Sinn Fein vote and to plan the next move.

A new report by the Independent Monitoring Commission, which has kept a check on compliance by the IRA with its pledge to have ended violence, will also be published tomorrow.

Mr Ahern last night welcomed the outcome of the ard fheis as a "landmark decision" by Sinn Fein and said it opened the way for inclusive support for policing throughout the north of Ireland.

"That is profoundly in the interests of everybody. I hope that it also opens the way to full restoration of the power-sharing Executive and the other Good Friday Agreement institutions in March."

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister welcomes this historic decision and recognises the leadership it has taken to get to this point."

Gene McKenna

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Adams urges Paisley to share power with Sinn Fein