LONDON Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams began talks Monday with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the premier's office ahead of a May 22 referendum on the Northern Ireland peace deal. It is the fourth time Adams, whose party is the political wing of the Irish Republican Army, has been to Downing Street since December last year. Before he went inside Adams, accompanied by his party's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness, said they needed to cover a lot of ground at their meeting.

The recent killings of two Catholic men in Northern Ireland were a tragic reminder that they had not yet achieved peace on the ground. There are lots of things that need to be done. There is lots of progress that needs to be made across a range of issues, he said. Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam was also attending the meeting.

Sinn Fein has to announce a decision on whether it will advise its followers to support a yes vote in the referendums, being held on both sides of the Irish border. (AFP)