The government is not moving quickly enough on the outstanding issues in the peace process, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has claimed.

Mr Adams said he was impatient with the pace of politics in terms of changes to policing and demilitarisation.

The West Belfast MP was speaking after a meeting between the British and Irish Prime Ministers in London on Thursday.

Northern Ireland's devolved institutions were suspended on 14 October 2002 following a row over allegations of IRA activity, including alleged spying within the Northern Ireland Office.

If the process is to work in this next short period then the people in Downing Street need to pull their socks up Gerry Adams Sinn Fein leader

Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern met at Downing Street for talks as attempts continue to find a breakthrough in the deadlocked political process.

Speaking after the talks, Mr Ahern said there were still difficulties ahead in the peace process.

But he said both governments were "full of determination to complete the outstanding issues".

However, Mr Adams said he was disappointed at the outcome of the meeting.

"We are at a very crucial point in this process," he said.

"We obviously, despite our disappointment at the lack of progress at yesterday's meeting, want this to work we have invested a huge amount of time and energy in it.

"It remains our conviction that eventually it will work, but if it is to work in this next short period then the people in Downing Street need to pull their socks up."

David Trimble: The onus is on republicans

His comments follow a claim by Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble that the onus was on republicans to resolve the current impasse in the political process.

Mr Trimble said acts of completion, and not "acts of beginning", were required from the republican movement before progress could be made.

He added that elections to the Stormont Assembly in May could make the political situation worse unless the parties agreed a deal.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster on Friday Mr Trimble said: "There is great concern about what the consequences will be of an election if nothing is sorted out.

"If we had an election in that context we could find things even worse afterwards.

"I think we have got to see whether it is possible if we can sort things out, that is the preferred option, but it cannot be sorted out unless the republicans do what they should have done years ago."

Mr Trimble said the level of trust amongst unionists was so low that this time "republicans must jump first".

Further round-table talks are to be held in Belfast next Thursday.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said the agenda for round-table talks at Stormont should be the delivery of the complete implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

Ulster Unionist peer Lord Kilclooney said he was not convinced the IRA was serious about fulfilling its commitments under the Good Friday Agreement.