Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair will today review the prospects of securing power-sharing at Stormont in March.

A row between Ulster Unionists and Northern Secretary Peter Hain over plans for a Stormont justice minister escalated tonight as the party published the British government’s proposal on the internet.

The British government would be sounding the death knell for devolution in the North if it tries to impose a justice minister on the Stormont Assembly next year, a senior unionist warned today.

The British government wants the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Féin to indicate next week who will be their choice for first and deputy first ministers at Stormont if efforts to revive power sharing are to remain on course.

The Northern Ireland Assembly is to be dissolved next January to prepare for a fresh Stormont election on March 7, the Government revealed today.