Speaking after meeting Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams in Pretoria on Wednesday, South African President Thabo Mbeki said that the recent initiative by the IRA "has opened the way for the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement". Free article

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney have been challenged by Sinn Féin Cavan/Monaghan TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin on the tragic death of Patrick Walsh in Monaghan General Hospital on Friday 14 October. The Sinn Féin Dáil leader said the death came about directly as a result of "disastrous policies" which dictated that emergency surgery could not be carried out on Walsh in Monaghan General Hospital. Free article

A former RUC Special Branch detective has dramatically revealed that material central to a murder inquiry is still in his possession. The scandal emerged after retired Special Branch officer Eric Anderson told a TV documentary team that he had documented evidence relating to a murder investigation in a bid to secure payment for his co-operation with the film-makers. Free article

Eric Anderson was a senior Special Branch officer who had worked on many high profile cases during his career, including the Greysteel and Castlerock UDA murders and the Omagh bombing. Free article

If last week's controversy between anti-Agreement unionism and Catholic Priest Alex Reid tells us anything it's that dialogue between nationalists and unionists can be as difficult as it is necessary. Free article

Republicans greeted the latest report of the so-called Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) with the same response it gave to the previous six. The IMC is a tool of British intelligence agencies and was established outside the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Free article

Mayo residents protesting at the controversial Corrib pipeline have lashed out at multinational Shell for continuing to ignore their concerns. The locals hit out at the company after a two-day hearing conducted in Mayo by the Department of Marine and Natural Resources on Wednesday and Thursday of last week, during which Shell said it was still fully committed to the Corrib gas field project and onshore pipeline. Free article