Tony Blair said yesterday that punishment beatings and other paramilitary activity by the IRA were to blame for the impasse in Northern Ireland's peace process.

He added that a breakthrough remained possible at talks planned in Leeds Castle in Kent, later this month, but only if the republican movement committed itself to entirely peaceful tactics.

"If there were to be a return to full-scale violence, that would be a complete cul-de-sac for any of the aims that republicanism wants to achieve. At the same time, what people have to understand is you cannot have a lasting peace deal on the basis of a little bit of violence."