London - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown held talks in London Tuesday with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams amid signs of tension in the peace process in Northern Ireland.

Adams, whose nationalist Sinn Fein party is in government with the mainstream Protestant Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Northern Ireland, made no comment when he left the meeting with Brown in Downing Street.

The talks came amid speculation that Sinn Fein could attempt to derail proceedings in Belfast on Thursday to install DUP chief Peter Robinson as new first minister (head of government) in the province, following the departure from the post of Ian Paisley.

Sinn Fein is said to have been angered by alleged DUP attempts to delay the transfer of policing powers in the province in line with the provisions of the peace agreement.

If Sinn Fein should refuse Thursday to renominate Martin McGuinness for the post of deputy first minister, the present power- sharing arrangement could collapse, reports have said.

The parties would then be given a week to resolve their differences before the British government would step in to break the deadlock, probably by calling fresh elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly (regional parliament).

A spokesman for Brown said after the talks that the British government hoped the deadline would be met and the outstanding issues could be resolved.

"We do recognize that there are difficult issues. The government stands ready to do whatever it can to help the parties find a way through," the spokesman said. (dpa)