Politicians from across the political spectrum have condemned an assault on the deputy chairman of the North's Policing Board last night.

The deputy chairman of the North's Policing Board was hospitalised earlier this week after being assaulted in a pub in the Brandywell area of Derry.

A Northern Ireland policing chief provoked uproar today after warning that hard-won Catholic support for the force may end unless the political deadlock is broken.

The British government came under fire today for its selection of a former top Northern Ireland civil servant with links to the intelligence services to conduct a review of the theft of Special Branch documents in a break-in at a Belfast police station.

Ronnie Flanagan is to stay on as Northern Ireland chief constable for an extra month.