Adams: Time to stand up and be counted
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has said it is time to "stand up and be counted" against what he called "tiny, unrepresentative factions" who continue to engage in armed actions.
Speaking in the wake of the murder of PSNI constable Ronan Kerr and other violent incidents, Deputy Adams reiterated his offer to meet with dissidents to "point out the futility of armed actions in the Ireland of 2011 and to discuss the political space that is open for you to move into".
Twenty-five-year-old Kerr died when a dissident bomb exploded under his car in Omagh on April 2.
His killing prompted a peaceful protest on the streets of the town yesterday, attended by thousands.
Meanwhile, police investigating the murder have been granted a five-day extension to question a 33-year-old man who was arrested in Omagh on Friday.
Two other men are also being questioned.
Speaking today, Deputy Adams also said that those who tolerate the existence of such groups or "who provide shelter, resources or facilities to them" need to reflect on their position.
“These groups are not the IRA and nobody should be under any illusion about that," he said.
Deputy Adams also appealed to disparate republican groups in Ireland and in the North including Republican Sinn Féin, the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, the Republican Network for Unity and Éirigí.
“These are all entirely legitimate political groupings," he said.
"They are fully entitled to disagree with Sinn Féin and to criticise us and our strategy.
“But since the murder of Ronan Kerr they have all put their heads down.
“I am appealing to them all to call for an end to these armed actions.
"They need to make it clear that these actions have to stop.”
Meanwhile the leader of Republican Sinn Féin has refused to condemn the murder of Constable Kerr.
Speaking to Kfm, Des Dalton said it was "easy to condemn and vilify" people but the cause of the conflict was not being dealt with.
