THE North was in a virtual political vacuum throughout 1977, as there was no single recognised political leader within either the Nationalist or Unionist communities. The Dublin government had a twin policy designed primarily to ensure the British protected the rights of the minority in the North and encouraged agreement on a power-sharing basis.

A new type of company set up to help the community can be established in the North following the introduction of new legislation, it was announced today.

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has said the apparent circumstances surrounding the killing of an inmate at Mountjoy Prison earlier this week are a cause for real concern.

A bus carrying Mexican tourists plunged off a 650ft cliff today, killing at least 60 people in a crash police said could have been caused by brake failure on the steep mountainous roads.

Russia today dampened hopes of a deal with Iran that would ease concerns about its suspected nuclear weapons programme, reminding Tehran that it must first freeze its domestic uranium enrichment.

Russian and Iranian delegations ended a day of high-profile nuclear talks without any visible breakthrough, but agreed to continue their negotiations on Moscow’s proposal to enrich uranium for Iran as a way of reducing suspicion that Tehran is trying to develop nuclear weapons.

Russia expressed limited hope today as Russian and Iranian officials started talks in Moscow on an offer to enrich uranium for Iran, seen as a final opportunity for the Islamic regime to avoid the threat of international sanctions over Western concerns it is developing nuclear weapons.

PATIENTS will be charged up to €200 to attend the country’s first private casualty department which opens on Monday.

The Bush administration is preparing to ask the United Nations to transform the US-led force in Iraq to a multinational force and to play a leading role in forming an Iraqi government.

AS the momentum picks up in the convention on the future of Europe, we reach a defining moment in the history of the EU.

Bank accounts suspected of being used by outlawed terrorist organisations - including Osama bin Laden’s al Qaida network - have now been frozen in a total of 130 countries, a high-ranking US financial official said.

Bank accounts suspected of being used by outlawed terrorist organisations - including Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network - have now been frozen in a total of 130 countries, a high-ranking US financial official said today.