based government, which had powers to run most of the province of 1.7 million people's affairs, fell apart in October 2002 in a row over the pace of IRA disarmament. Britain reimposed direct rule from London. Blair and Ahern say two items will dominate the agenda at the talks -- ending paramilitarism and restoring power-sharing. The DUP says the IRA must completely disarm and disband before it will contemplate sharing power with Sinn Fein. Sinn Fein wants Britain to scale back its military presence in the province and agree the transfer of policing and justice powers from London to Belfast. Most analysts doubt a deal can be done this week between two polar opposites although some speculate a side-agreement might be struck between Britain and Sinn Fein on demilitarisation and IRA disarmament, paving the way for a wider deal later. Tuesday's bugging allegations were not the first time Sinn Fein has accused the British of spying on it. Former Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam has since admitted she authorised the bugging of a car used by Adams during talks in 1999, and just last week the party displayed a device it said had been found in the home of a party worker. --SP 2259 Local Time 1959 GMT
