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The SDLP has rejected an approach by Sinn Fein to form an electoral pact in Fermanagh, South Tyrone and South Belfast.Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams wrote to Margaret Ritchie suggesting they discuss cooperating in specific constituencies in the General Election.
The SDLP rejected the idea saying they are against joining forces.
Ms Ritchie wrote to Mr Adams saying it was not credible for her party to cooperate with such an approach.
The development comes after the DUP and the Ulster Unionists agreed to back an independent candidate in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
On Friday, it was announced that a former chief executive of Fermanagh District Council, Rodney Connor, will stand as an independent.
The former vice chair of the NI Conservatives Jeff Peel resigned from the party following the decision to run a joint unionist candidate.
In the general election in 2005, the combined vote for Sinn Fein and the SDLP was almost 26,000 while the vote for the DUP and the Ulster Unionists was almost 23,000 combined.
Also standing in the constituency are Sinn Fein's Michelle Gildernew, Fearghal McKinney of the SDLP and the Alliance Party's Vasundhara Kamble.This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.