In a hard-hitting message to armed republican groups, Mr. McGuinness dismissed their campaign as "bogus" and "pointless".

He also said the response of the people of Derry to the murder of Emmett Shiels in Creggan last week was an indication of the lack of support for dissident republican groups.

"These groups should listen to the voice of the people and pack up and go away. They have come to the point of no return, armed action in the absence of a political strategy and support are pointless and do nothing to advance the cause of Irish freedom. Indeed the opposite is the reality," he said.

Mr. McGuinness also offered to hold talks with the leaders of dissident republican groups. "I have heard some within these groups argue that their motivation is to drag the IRA back onto the battlefield. That will not happen. And indeed, myself, Gerry Adams and other republican leaders have offered to meet with these various groups to set out in very clear terms where we see the struggle sitting and where it is headed in the years ahead," he said.