Sinn Féin have taken a brave step on an historic day for the North, says Political Editor Harry McGee.

The British government was today urged by a senior US politician to publicly acknowledge members of the police and British army colluded with loyalist paramilitaries during the North's Troubles.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams will today meet Irish American supporters a day ahead of the Irish and British governments’ deadline for responses to their plan for restoring power-sharing at Stormont.

The US House of Representatives yesterday voted overwhelmingly to extend the USA Patriot Act, America’s main anti-terrorism tool, just hours after television news beamed images of an attempted bombing attack in London.

A former IRA commander has become the second high-profile Sinn Fein member to honour soldiers who died while fighting for Britain at the Battle of the Somme.

Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams, said this afternoon that many republicans believed the war is over - but for other people it was not.

THE GOLFERS of Woodstock Golf Club near Ennis are poised to get a memorable weekend for Clare off to the best possible start.

GALWAY is bracing itself for a shindig to beat all shindigs should Woodstock capture the Bulmers Pierce Purcell Shield over the next couple of days.

THE North’s Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan is to be asked to investigate the police handling of interfaith violence in a flashpoint area of east Belfast, Sinn Féin chairman Mitchel McLaughlin revealed yesterday.

A prominent Sinn Fein councillor has accused a High Court judge in the North of endangering his life and his family by refusing him permission to carry a gun for his own protection.

A prominent Sinn Fein councillor today accused a High Court judge of ‘‘wilfully endangering’’ his life and his family after refusing him permission to carry a gun for his own protection.

The UDA was today accused of hiding behind a new cover name after a death threat was issued against four prominent Belfast republicans.

The INLA has threatened Protestant workers at the main Marks and Spencers distribution depot near Belfast.

Loyalist murder victim Ciaran Cummings will never be ‘‘a mere statistic’’ of Northern Ireland’s Troubles, mourners at his funeral in Antrim were told today.

Detectives investigating the murder of Catholic teenager Ciaran Cummings were today examining a black motorcycle they found during a search of a garage on the loyalist Ballycraigy Estate in Antrim.

Loyalists were tonight accused of launching a pipe bomb attack as police kept rival Protestant and Catholic factions apart in north Belfast.

In Belfast, a judge has turned down an application asking for a judicial review into alleged electoral irregularities over the distribution of postal vote application forms.

The SDLP is accusing Sinn Fein of intimidation in the West Tyrone constituency, as campaigning continues in the North.

Sinn Fein claims last night's discovery of a handgun in north Belfast is linked to a loyalist murder bid on one of its leading members.