The Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams, has warned that the political process in Northern Ireland faces its greatest challenge since the 1998 Good Friday agreement.
Adams said he was not hopeful that a fresh round of all-party talks next month could resolve outstanding issues hanging over from the peace process, such as dealing with the legacy of the Troubles and issues over contentious parades and flags.
The republican leader, seen as a key architect of the peace process, also accused both the British and Irish governments of being too passive by not pushing nationalists and unionists towards a new agreement on those outstanding issues.
One issue capable of destabilising Northern Ireland – controversial marches – is set to flare up again this weekend.
A dissident republican march to commemorate the 1971 introduction of internment without trial is scheduled to pass through Belfast city centre on Sunday afternoon. The parade is comprised of a range of disparate republican groups including the 32 Sovereignty Committee, which supports the violent campaign of the new IRA.
Ulster loyalists are mobilising to block the parade being routed through Royal Avenue, Belfast's main shopping thoroughfare. The same march last year was prevented from going down Royal Avenue after loyalists rioted in the city centre, resulting in 56 police officers being injured and dozens arrested.
Thousands of leaflets and posters have been distributed across Protestant areas of Northern Ireland this week, calling on loyalists to block the march.
On the prospects of all-party talks solving such issues, Adams said: "Most worryingly there is no evidence from Downing Street or the NIO or the Unionist leaderships of any likelihood of a real negotiation on all of these issues commencing in September."
Adams accused the Northern Ireland secretary, Theresa Villiers, of adopting a "pro-unionist stance" in recent weeks and months.
