51.   Britain insists that the IRA commit itself to disarm before Sinn Fein enters negotiations with pro-British Protestant parties.

52.   But in one of the biggest contradictions of Northern Ireland politics, their affiliated politicians are considered far more flexible on political matters than the mainstream Protestant parties.

53.   But mainstream Protestant parties still shun Sinn Fein, believing that the party is playing up the threat of resumed IRA violence as a political tactic.

54.   But on Tuesday, the leader of the main Protestant party said he would accept an Anglo-Irish recommendation to break the deadlock.

55.   But other senior party officials argued for withdrawal, as two hard-line Protestant parties already have done.

56.   But the main pro-British Protestant parties are refusing to meet Sinn Fein.

57.   But the main Protestant party, the Ulster Unionists, says such a system is unworkable.

58.   But the British government confirmed that the Ulster Unionists, the largest Protestant party, had agreed on a compromise after a marathon haggling session.

59.   But the major Protestant party, the Ulster Unionists, agreed to work alongside Sinn Fein only if the IRA responded by gradually scrapping its hidden stockpiles of weapons.

60.   But two other Protestant parties that boycotted the talks are hoping to form a bloc sufficiently large to stymie the necessary voting consensus.