Belfast councillors today launched a last-ditch bid to persuade football chiefs to defer any decision on a new stadium for Northern Ireland’s international team.

A woman was being questioned tonight about the murder of an American backpacker outside a Belfast hostel.

The North's two main unionist parties appeared to be on collision course at the next British general election after the Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists confirmed they would contest a key Ulster Unionist seat.

A former Stormont minister was waiting today to see if his bid to run for Westminster's parliament will get the backing of colleagues in South Belfast.

Crude graffiti has been daubed on walls as part of a new offensive by loyalists to drive Catholics out of a troubled south Belfast area, it emerged today.

Sinister sectarian leaflets demanding that Catholics be thrown out of a loyalist area of Belfast are being investigated by police, it was confirmed today.

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble was due to face some of his biggest critics today as his party's Assembly candidates prepared to discuss election tactics.

The Ulster Unionists tonight announced changes to its team of candidates for the forthcoming Assembly election in Northern Ireland.

Councillors in Belfast have elected Martin Morgan of the SDLP as the city's new Lord Mayor.

SDLP councillor Martin Morgan was tonight elected Lord Mayor of Belfast.

Community representatives must help end the serious rioting which saw four police injured in Belfast city centre, a senior PSNI officer said tonight.