None of the key issues blocking the Northern Ireland peace process had been solved by today’s talks between the Northern Irish parties, the British Prime Minister and the Taoiseach, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said tonight.
Mr Adams was speaking following eight hours of talks involving Tony Blair, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and all of Northern Ireland's pro-Good Friday Agreement parties in a secluded manor house on the border of Shropshire and Staffordshire.
He accused the British Government of failing to show sufficient leadership and said that "a change of approach" was needed.
Speaking outside the gates of talks venue Weston Park, Mr Adams said that the Sinn Fein delegation had arrived prepared to do business and to get the agreement back on track.
He said: "That requires, especially the British Government, being prepared to show leadership on all of pertinent issues. I have to say that I am still waiting for evidence of that.
"I think today proved among other things that a change of venue doesn’t suffice - there is a need for a change of approach.
"All of the issues that were outstanding this morning are still outstanding now."