MR JOHN HUME has dismissed come media reports that he may contest an Irish presidential election later in the year.
The reports were the "product of silly season journalism", the SDLP leader said yesterday.
Mr Hume, however, would not be drawn on speculation that he may stand down from his Foyle seat in the forthcoming Westminster election.
Despite his reticence, the West Belfast MP, Dr Joe Hendron, predicted that Mr Hume will contest Foyle.
Mr Hume also would not comment on speculation that the SDLP might consider an electoral pact with Sinn Fein before the election.
The party's electoral strategy was a matter for the SDLP executive, he insisted.
Meanwhile, the Ulster Democratic Party leader, Mr Gary McMichael, has called on Mr Hume to use his influence with Mr Gerry Adams to warn of the grave implications for the loyalist ceasefire of a continuation of IRA violence.
It was vital, he said, that Mr Hume utilise his relations with the Sinn Fein president to try to prevent further IRA violence.
Mr McMichael added that the IRA must realise that loyalist patience was not inexhaustible.
"If republicans are interested in finding a peaceful resolution of the conflict then they would recognise the need for an irrevocable ceasefire," he said.
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, the Sinn Fein chairman, in an address to be delivered in Limerick tomorrow, will state that Sinn Fein remains committed to the peace process.
"So long as Gerry Adams and John Hume continue their collective enterprise, then we have grounds for hope and reasons to weigh in behind their endeavours," he will tell the Sean Sabhat 40th anniversary commemoration.
The Alliance leader, Lord Alderdice, has criticised the Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, for suggesting that the multi party talks might be suspended in the run up to the Westminster election.
The election must be held by May 1st at the earliest.
Lord Alderdice said with the proper commitment from unionists an agreement could have been achieved at the talks before Christmas which would have addressed the decommissioning issue and led to substantive talks. "But it became clear that the unionists had no intention of reaching any agreement.
"Every time we addressed their stated difficulties to their satisfaction they raised new problems, until it became clear that they were simply ensuring that no agreement could be reached," he added.
"The Ulster Unionist Party is now acting more out of fear of Ian Paisley and Bob McCartney than out of any clear plan or principled position.
"The call for the talks to be suspended is a characteristic misjudgment by Mr Trimble and a disappointing start to the new year," said Lord Alderdice.
