Six County Deputy First Minister and Sinn Féin Chief Negotiator, Martin McGuinness was a leading facilitator for several days of discussions between leading representatives of Iraqi political parties and others linked to a range of groups close to the conflict, it emerged this week. Free article

The British Ministry of Defence has agreed to temporarily withdraw and amend its controversial military analysis of Operation Banner, the British Army codename for operations in Ireland between August 1969 and 31 July 2007. Free article

Sinn Féin National Chairperson and MEP for Dublin Mary Lou McDonald has said Sinn Féin has agreed to write to the leaders of all opposition parties in a bid to form a political alliance against the withdrawal of the Shannon to Heathrow route. McDonald was speaking on Thursday last after she led a party delegation including Martin Ferris TD and Maurice Quinlivan to meet with the Shannon Action Group to discuss the impact of Aer Lingus' decision to withdraw its Shannon to Heathrow route. Free article

Sinn Féin West Belfast MP Gerry Adams led a party delegation, including Paul Maskey MLA, to meet Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie about the proposed development of the old Andersonstown RUC Barracks site last Monday. Free article

Speaking on Tuesday after a Circuit Court judge instructed environmental activists to vacate a Shell to Sea solidarity camp at Glengad in County Mayo by 1 January, Sinn Féin's Martin Ferris TD called the decision "a farce". He went on to label the local authority "highly hypocritical" after their claims that the camp is causing "irreparable damage" to the local environment while they support the highly dangerous proposed Corrib gas pipeline. Free article

The following is the text of a statement supplied to An Phoblacht this week from Óglaigh na hÉireann: Free article