Politicians in the North are set for another late night of negotiations in a last-ditch attempt to strike a deal on outstanding peace process issues.

Final hothouse political negotiations will begin in the North today in a last-ditch bid to find agreement on contentious issues left over from the peace process.

The Obama administration has urged politicians in Northern Ireland to compromise on a deal on parading, flags, and dealing with the region’s troubled past.

The Obama administration has urged politicians in Northern Ireland to compromise on a deal on parading, flags and dealing with the region’s troubled past.

Part of the proposed political deal is “unworkable”, Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson said.

The former US diplomat Richard Haass has said there is a real opportunity for progress today, as talks resume on some of the North's most contentious issues.

The leader of Northern Ireland’s largest nationalist party has urged all sides to make progress in a new bid to end the deadlock and reach agreement over flags, disputed parades and the past.

For US diplomat Richard Haass has launched a new bid to end the deadlock and reach agreement with all sides in Northern Ireland over flags, disputed parades and the past.

Crunch political talks aimed at resolving outstanding peace process issues in the North are set to go on long into the evening.

The ex-White House envoy drafted in to help resolve some of the North's most divisive issues has said he leaves the region with a great sense of confidence.

Peace process gains in Northern Ireland cannot be taken for granted and much work is needed to address the unresolved issues facing the region, a former US diplomat said as he arrived in Belfast to chair a new political talks initiative.