We've been voted into peace talks says Adams

Sinn Fein think they will be handed a massive publicity coup if John Major shuts them out of peace talks.

The party's hopes were rising last night that after their success in last week's elections - they won 17 of the 110 seats - the Prime Minister will be forced to allow them to the conference table.

But both the British and Irish governments were insisting that Sinn Fein could not be included in the Peace Forum unless there was a formal ceasefire.

Sinn Fein chairman Mitchel McLoughlin has stressed that such a step is "unlikely".

A jubilant Gerry Adams said he was convinced there would be a peace settlement, but that London and Dublin had to ensure that Sinn Fein were part of the process.

The Sinn Fein president accused the British of using delaying tactics.

And he added: " There is no tactical, strategic or any other advantage to be gained by saying to the people who voted Sinn Fein, 'You are not first class citizens'."

When it was put to him that there had to be an IRA ceasefire before Sinn Fein was allowed into talks, he replied: "It's futile to try to shoehorn one organisation into a situation by excluding another organisation - and, more importantly, the tens of thousands of people throughout the six counties who voted for that organisation.

"Those who voted for Sinn Fein voted for the slogan 'vote for peace'. We made clear that we were not the IRA, that the IRA was a separate organisation. How can we make peace if we exclude a section of the electorate?"

But more optimistic sources claimed that all parties were negotiating for the best possible deal in the last few crucial days before the talks begin.

Although Downing Street was insisting last night that Sinn Fein could not be admitted without a ceasefire, it was clear that hopes were rising that the result would pressure the IRA into making a formal declaration.

Even without one, senior diplomatic sources pointed out last night, there has been a ceasefire in Northern Ireland for 20 months, which has never been broken. The only breach has been on the British mainland.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the IRA is secretly drafting recruits in America.

Sinn Fein's fundraising wing Noraid is using dances in New York and Boston to coax young Irish immigrants into becoming Provos.

One 23-year-old said: "I was going to the dances because they were a great place to meet Irish girls.

"I was approached by a top Noraid member who began discussing politics and asked me if I would like to join the IRA.

"I came to America to make money, not to get tied up as a terrorist. I don't want to get involved."

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