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Justice talks over says Sinn Fein Robinson 'surprised' at Sinn Fein
(30 minutes later)
Talks between the DUP and Sinn Fein on the devolution of policing and justice powers are over, Sinn Fein have said. DUP leader Peter Robinson has said he was "surprised" that Sinn Fein had announced the end of the current round of talks on devolving justice powers.
Alex Maskey confirmed that the current round of negotiations had ended. He said the party's meeting in Dublin on Saturday would map the way forward. Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey said the party's leadership meeting in Dublin on Saturday would map the way forward.
However, Mr Maskey added: "Our door remains open." It is believed Sinn Fein will discuss whether to withdraw Martin McGuinness from his role as deputy first minister.
BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport said they would "decide whether to take the nuclear option of pulling Martin McGuinness out of the Executive". Mr Robinson said: "Anyone who steps away from the table at this stage endangers the whole process".
Mr Maskey pointed out that his party leadership had informed the DUP of its decision on Wednesday night. "I felt some progress had been made in the last number of days and I'm very disappointed at the remarks that have been made," he said.
He was responding to Acting First Minister Arlene Foster who said her party's negotiators had waited at Stormont on Thursday and had no-one to negotiate with. ANALYSIS Mark Devenport, BBC NI political editor Peter Robinson is saying he is still ready to talk, but it is hard to imagine them going back to these cosy Sinn Fein/DUP talks.
The DUP and Sinn Fein have been engaged in a war of words on how to progress on transferring the powers to Belfast. You've got Sinn Fein accusing the DUP, essentially, of bad faith.
Both Mr Robinson and some of the other parties, the SDLP and Ulster Unionists, seem to be talking more now about negotiations involving all the parties.
Although Mr Robinson said it would be better if the local parties could sort their problems out themselves, I get the sense that he would be open to government intervention, maybe as soon as next week.
In his blog, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said the "game was up, but not over".In his blog, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said the "game was up, but not over".
"The failure of the DUP thus far to come up to the plate during the current round of negotiations shouldn't come as any great surprise," he said."The failure of the DUP thus far to come up to the plate during the current round of negotiations shouldn't come as any great surprise," he said.
"They want the scrapping of the Parades Commission and progress on the ground - in other words marches through Catholic areas.""They want the scrapping of the Parades Commission and progress on the ground - in other words marches through Catholic areas."
Discussions
He accused the DUP of "looking over their shoulder" at hardline unionist Jim Allister, whose TUV party opposes power-sharing with Sinn Fein.He accused the DUP of "looking over their shoulder" at hardline unionist Jim Allister, whose TUV party opposes power-sharing with Sinn Fein.
It is understood the latest round of discussions concluded on Wednesday. On Friday, Mr Robinson said he was "frustrated" that they had failed to make more progress.
Mr Maskey said: "There was no question, let me be very clear, Peter Robinson was under no illusion. There was no question of any talks between both of our parties scheduled for yesterday or, indeed, today." "The nature of negotiations is that one party can't sit down and say 'time is running short, it's about time you came to our position'.
Meanwhile, a SDLP delegation has met Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. "Negotiations are about getting accommodation, working out a way that is suitable to all parties."
Speaking afterwards, the SDLP's Alex Attwood said "all-party talks are the best way forward". Mr Robinson said he did not know what to expect from Saturday's meeting of Sinn Fein's party executive, or Ard Comhairle.
Mr Attwood said: "The public appetite is for devolution to work and the devolution of policing and justice to happen." "Every day is a surprise for me - I don't need any more excitement in my life at the moment," he said.
He said they were remaining calm and hoped the two parties could "get down to business on Monday".
Other parties
Asked about the prospect of prime ministers Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen becoming involved, he said: "I agreed with Gerry Adams when he said to me it is much better if we can deal with these issues ourselves.
"The other political parties should be part of this process, particularly if we are trying to get community support and encouraging people to support the devolution of policing and justice.
"If we are stuck and can't move forward, facilitation becomes a necessity."
Meanwhile, the SDLP's Alex Attwood said "all-party talks are the best way forward".
He was speaking after an SDLP delegation met Mr McGuinness on Friday.
Alliance Party leader David Ford said politicians needed to "grow up and reach an accommodation".Alliance Party leader David Ford said politicians needed to "grow up and reach an accommodation".
He said there was an urgent need for all parties to work together and that the political process was "sliding towards a crisis".He said there was an urgent need for all parties to work together and that the political process was "sliding towards a crisis".
Also on Friday, the Shadow Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, spoke publicly for the first time about last weekend's secret talks involving the Ulster Unionists and the DUP.Also on Friday, the Shadow Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, spoke publicly for the first time about last weekend's secret talks involving the Ulster Unionists and the DUP.
Mr Paterson denied the discussions were about a hung parliament and insisted that his party were not about to endorse an electoral pact with the DUP. The Conservative MP denied the discussions were about unionists' role in a potential hung parliament and insisted his party were not about to endorse an electoral pact with the DUP.