The Ulster Unionists said tonight that they would not be supporting the landmark deal to devolve policing powers to the North at a crucial Assembly vote next week.

Alliance Party leader David Ford is expected to announce that his party will take the justice ministry in Northern Ireland later today.

The 50:50 recruitment scheme for Catholics and Protestants entering the PSNI must continue if a balanced service is to be delivered, nationalists claimed today.

Sinn Féin have met in Dublin to review the deal on devolution.

Over half of respondents to a poll in the Belfast Telegraph believe Peter Robinson should resign as First Minister and DUP leader because of revelations about his personal life.

Sinn Féin was accused tonight by First Minister Peter Robinson of breaking the spirit and letter of the recent political agreement in the North.

Daily meetings will be held to find a way forward on the North's parading dispute, the British government said today.

The SDLP's Alban Maginness was today nominated to become the first justice minister in the Northern Ireland Executive.

Political leaders in the North meet today to discuss who should be their new Minister for Justice.

The North’s political leaders will today face the first challenge in implementing the landmark agreement to save the region’s power-sharing government.

The deal to save the North’s power-sharing government faced its first significant challenge today when the politician tipped to be the new justice minister cast doubt on whether he would accept the post.

The deal to save the North's power-sharing government was the “best possible agreement” for the people of the North, Shaun Woodward said today.

Sinn Féin has said its officer board supports the agreement reached on the devolution of policing and justice in the North.

The North's political leaders will meet US president Barack Obama on St Patrick’s Day following their deal to save the power-sharing government, the White House said.

Barack Obama tonight said the North’s power-sharing deal was an important step on the path to greater peace and prosperity.

The 21-page Hillsborough Agreement sets out plans for devolving policing and justice powers, dealing with contentious loyal order parades and resolving outstanding issues facing the Stormont Executive.

Members of Protestant marching organisations in the North welcomed the promise of a new system for overseeing parades in today’s deal, but Catholic residents’ groups expressed concerns over any changes.

Today’s deal to save the North's power-sharing government will help secure lasting peace in the region, the United States said today.

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown have joined the North's First and Deputy First Ministers in the past hour to address the media after a deal was struck on the devolution of policing and justice powers.

An Taoiseach Brian Cowen and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown were today launching a deal to save the North's power-sharing government – confirming it will take on policing and justice powers from April 12.

An Taoiseach Brian Cowen and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will travel to Belfast today to formally announce details of the deal to save the North’s power-sharing government.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Peter Robinson said today his party’s elected representatives at the Stormont Assembly had backed a deal with Sinn Féin to save the North’s power-sharing government.

The Democratic Unionist Party was tonight in last-minute talks with the British Government before giving its verdict on a deal to save North's power-sharing Assembly.

Talks to save the North’s power-sharing government have ended and the basis for a deal now exists, Sinn Féin said today.

A deal is very close on policing and justice in the North, Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin said today.

Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward warned today that efforts to reach a deal on policing and justice in the North were “on the edge”.

The North's political parties were under increasing pressure today to agree a deal to save the region's power-sharing government.

Negotiations to save the North’s powersharing government are continuing tonight after a rebellion within Democratic Unionist ranks raised fears of a worsening crisis.

Democratic Unionist and Sinn Féin leaders are to brief party colleagues at Stormont today after a further session of crunch talks to save the North's power-sharing government.

Democratic Unionist leader Peter Robinson will resume negotiations with Sinn Féin today as he tries to convince sceptics within his own party of the merits of a deal to save power sharing in the North.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Peter Robinson said tonight his party was not ready to agree a deal which would save the North’s power-sharing government.

There are reports of developments in the negotiations between Sinn Féin and the DUP this afternoon.

Democratic Unionist members were locked in lengthy internal discussions today on whether they will sign up to a deal that could save the North's power-sharing government.

Talks to save the North’s power-sharing government resume today with the parties edging closer to a deal on policing, justice and parades.

British Business Secretary Peter Mandelson today accused the Tories of jeopardising the North's peace process for the sake of party political advantage.

A deal to save the North's power-sharing government was in sight today after “considerable progress” was made in securing the transfer of policing and justice powers from London to Belfast.

Talks aimed at saving the North's power-sharing administration have made “considerable progress”, the British Government said tonight.

There is greater certainty and clarity in efforts to resolve the North's mammoth power-sharing talks, the Democratic Unionist Party said tonight.

The DUP have said real progress is being made in talks aimed at saving the North's powersharing executive.

Marathon talks to save the North's power-sharing government resumed today.

Marathon talks to save the North's crisis-hit power-sharing government entered a sixth day today.

Talks aimed at saving the North’s power-sharing government have moved into a fifth night after discussions passed a deadline for agreement today with no sign of imminent success.

Sinn Féin negotiators have left talks at Hillsborough Castle to meet with party colleagues.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has cancelled a scheduled engagement in Meath today and has cleared his diary of other meetings, prompting speculation that both he and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown could be poised to return to Hillsborough Castle.