Gerry Adams told the DUP: "You will have to explain to unionists the increased role for Dublin if there is no power-sharing Executive."

The Sinn Fein president told the Belfast Telegraph: "It is not an ultimatum - just a statement of fact."

On the eve of his party's crucial ard fheis verdict tomorrow on supporting policing, there were increasing indications the republican leadership will carry the day - and force the political spotlight onto the DUP.

The Rev Ian Paisley's party will point out the ard fheis motion is conditional on the establishment of a power-sharing Stormont Executive - and a date for the transfer of justice powers.

The British and Irish governments are set to hail the ard fheis verdict and attempt to switch the focus on the DUP to indicate its willingness to agree to enter government with republicans.

London and Dublin will be assisted by the publication on Tuesday of the latest Independent Monitoring Commission report which is expected to be positive.

Secretary of State Peter Hain has insisted the March 26 date for a new executive, almost three weeks after the March 7 elections, cannot be changed.

Without a deal, the St Andrews Agreement consolidates so-called 'Plan B', an enhanced role for the Irish in the province.

Mr Adams said the DUP would have to explain to unionists why there will not be accountability via a local Assembly.

"They will have to explain why fly-in, fly-out British ministers will be imposing water charges and cuts and why, instead of an Assembly, we will have new partnership arrangements with the British and Irish governments."

Mr Adams said the DUP should be satisfied by the motion to be debated tomorrow, since it had helped craft it.