What are the British and Irish governments doing?
Tony Blair and his counterpart in Dublin, Bertie Ahern, are faced with some stark choices. The British prime minister, in particular, must decide in the next six weeks whether there is any hope of reviving the peace process. By mid-August, he will have either to authorise fresh elections – in which both republican and loyalist hardliners would be expected to do well – or put the Good Friday agreement into cold storage, by reintroducing direct rule from London. Related articles 02.07.2001: Politicians seek to rescue peace process 02.07.2001: Trimble’s exit takes Ulster to the brink 02.07.2001: Bargaining positions 02.07.2001: Symbolism of the Somme 02.07.
