The Sinn Fein president has announced a series of "disciplined protests" throughout Northern Ireland, which will include a rally in Belfast tomorrow. Mr Gerry Adams was speaking after the British and Irish governments made their decision to suspend Sinn Fein from the talks for 17 days.
He told reporters at Stormont yesterday that he was seeking urgent meetings with Mr Bertie Ahern and Mr Tony Blair to discuss the "crisis caused" by the governments' decision. Sinn Fein remained committed to the search for peace, he said. He described the exclusion as a "huge setback".
"Sinn Fein is out but Sinn Fein is not down," he said.
He would not say if Sinn Fein would return to the talks when the exclusion ends on March 9th, saying that decision would be partly governed by the responses from the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, said Mr Ahern had agreed to meet Mr Adams, while the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, said it was too early to say whether Mr Blair would agree to such a meeting.
Mr Adams, by Mr Martin Mc Guinness and other senior party figures, led a team of more than 20 elected Sinn Fein representatives into Castle Buildings, Stormont. He later described the ruling as "disgraceful".
He said Sinn Fein was "absolutely determined" to defend the rights of its 175,000 electorate. He claimed a threat from the Ulster Unionist Party to withdraw if Sinn Fein was not expelled prompted the suspension.
The SDLP leader said he would be seeking urgent meetings with both governments to discuss the implications. Mr John Hume said the SLDP remained committed to the need for inclusive talks.
Mr Ruairi O Bradaigh, president of Republican Sinn Fein, was dismissive of Sinn Fein's suspension. It would "make no difference whatsoever to the talks outcome which will be Sunning dale Mark II," he added.
