UK: BELFAST: MULTI PARTY TALKS RESUME AFTER WEEK OF VIOLENCE

(16 Jul 1996) English/Nat Multi-party talks on the future of Northern Ireland have resumed after the worst week of violence and destruction the province has seen for years. It follows the announcement over the weekend by one of the main nationalist parties, the SDLP, that it was going to resign its seats in the Ulster Forum set up to run in parallel with the talks. But while the main political parties meet, the Irish Republican Army's political wing Sinn Fein remains on the sidelines - denied entry until the IRA calls a new ceasefire. After a week of disputes and violence which has driven unionists and nationalists further apart than at any time since the IRA ceasefire, the main political parties were back at the negotiating table Tuesday morning. And in another show of what is becoming a routine event the Sinn Fein delegation turned up only to be barred at the entrance. The party has been told it cannot enter the talks until the IRA renews its ceasefire, but in a remarkable public display of defiance Sinn Fein's deputy leader demanded to be let in. SOUNDBITE: (McGuinness and security officer) "Can you remove these barriers please? Who's in charge?" "I'm afraid you're not allowed any further than this." "By who? By who? Who doesn't permit us to go any further? On whose instructions are we denied access to these discussions? Is it the RUC, are they deciding who gains admission to the talks? Could you answer my question?" "Not at the moment." "Do you know?" "I'm waiting for my authorities to arrive." "But do you know where your authority comes from? Are you acting on behalf of the two governments? Is it Hugh Annesley? Is it David Trimble? Is it Ian Paisley? From whom do you get your orders?" "You're not permitted to come through here." "By who? Under what law? Could you tell under what law." "Just stand there please." "But could you tell me under what law? Are you a policeman? Could you tell me under what law?" SUPER CAPTION: Martin McGuinness, Deputy Leader Sinn Fein SOUNDBITE: (McGuinness and Chief Inspector) "These people are all elected representatives from...they are all very civilised people, they are all going to behave themselves." "This is a private part of the estate in fact. Unless you have a reason to be beyond this point you can go no further." "We do have a reason." "As far as I'm concerned you haven't." "Well as far as we're concerned we have..." "You can stand there and make a peaceful protest then." "I would like to know under what authority you are denying us access to Stormont buildings?" "This is a private road." "We are elected representatives." "This is a private road." "We are elected representatives." "Unless you have business down there you're not going any further." "Are you going to tell me that if I walk down here I'm breaking the law, is that what you're telling me?" "This is a private road, Mr McGuinness, unless you have business down there you can go no further, right? And that is the end of the story. You can stand there and make a peaceful protest no problem, so please..." "Can you tell me when it became a private road?" "It's always been, Mr McGuinness." SUPER CAPTION: Martin McGuinness, Deputy Leader Sinn Fein His way blocked, McGuinness led a protest outside the gates involving around 50 placard-waving supporters. After the violence sparked by the Loyalist Orange march through a Catholic neighbourhood, the British and Irish governments' focus now is on how to avoid future confrontations. But Democratic Unionist leader the Reverend Ian Paisley warned of further violence to come. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...