Today’s deal to save the North's power-sharing government will help secure lasting peace in the region, the United States said today.

The Democratic Unionist Party was tonight in last-minute talks with the British Government before giving its verdict on a deal to save North's power-sharing Assembly.

The North's political parties were under increasing pressure today to agree a deal to save the region's power-sharing government.

Negotiations to save the North’s powersharing government are continuing tonight after a rebellion within Democratic Unionist ranks raised fears of a worsening crisis.

Democratic Unionist and Sinn Féin leaders are to brief party colleagues at Stormont today after a further session of crunch talks to save the North's power-sharing government.

Democratic Unionist leader Peter Robinson will resume negotiations with Sinn Féin today as he tries to convince sceptics within his own party of the merits of a deal to save power sharing in the North.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Peter Robinson said tonight his party was not ready to agree a deal which would save the North’s power-sharing government.

Talks to save the North’s power-sharing government resume today with the parties edging closer to a deal on policing, justice and parades.

A deal to save the North's power-sharing government was in sight today after “considerable progress” was made in securing the transfer of policing and justice powers from London to Belfast.

Talks aimed at saving the North's power-sharing administration have made “considerable progress”, the British Government said tonight.

Marathon talks to save the North's power-sharing government resumed today.

Devolving policing and justice powers to the North cannot be held hostage to a resolution on controversial loyalist parades, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams warned today.

The North's power-sharing government was edging towards meltdown tonight after the Taoiseach and British prime minister left crisis talks without agreement.

A deal to save the North’s power-sharing government may not be possible today, a senior Democratic Unionist warned.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to remain in the North today to try to negotiate a deal to save its power-sharing government after making progress during all-night talks, a UK Government spokesman said.

The North’s political parties met face-to-face for crunch talks tonight as the Irish and British governments expressed hopes the powersharing administration could be saved.

The US administration is closely monitoring crisis talks aimed at saving the North’s power-sharing government, it was confirmed today.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown are to hold a second day of talks today in a bid to rescue the North's crisis-hit power-sharing government.

The IRA is honouring its pledge to shut down all terrorism and crime at an organisational level, the Irish and British governments said today.

A Northern Ireland Office minister today agreed to review all papers relating to the death of a woman in a Belfast hospital after what should have been a routine abdominal procedure.

Gerry Adams tonight urged the British and Irish governments to ignore a major row over alleged IRA weapons retention and prove they can advance the troubled Northern Ireland peace process.

GENERAL John de Chastelain was at the centre of a new row in the North last night after rejecting security force claims that the IRA is retaining weapons.

The Irish and British governments will begin new talks with all sides in the North next week in a bid to get the troubled peace process back on track.

THE historic meeting of President Mary McAleese and Queen Elizabeth II in the North yesterday could clear the way for an unprecedented State visit, Mrs McAleese said last night.

The Queen and Irish President Mary McAleese met today for the first ever time on the island of Ireland.

THE Reverend Ian Paisley was challenged by Sinn Féin yesterday to prove whether he was a man of his word.

Loyalist paramilitary chiefs tonight ordered an end to the violence sweeping across parts of the North.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday clarified to the Dáil the Government's position that IRA decommissioning must be photographed.

US Special Envoy Mitchell Reiss will join a fresh push today to strike a Northern Ireland peace deal.

British and Irish ministers will today meet to plan their strategy for a fresh push to restore devolution in Northern Ireland.

The UK government is holding fresh talks with political parties in Northern Ireland today as part of a major push to restore devolution.

Republicans are close to making the historic move of supporting Northern Ireland’s police service, Sinn Fein leaders confirmed today.

Republicans entered new crisis talks aimed at restoring Northern Ireland’s power-sharing regime today and urged unionists: “Protect devolution and the IRA will disarm.”

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s latest bid to restore devolution and secure the Provisionals’ disarmament will intensify today during the second day of crucial talks at Hillsborough Castle, which could result in the restoration of the North’s power-sharing executive.

Talks between the British and Irish governments this week will aim to find a way to rescue devolution in Northern Ireland and bridge the chasm between unionists and republicans.

The British and Irish governments were meeting the pro-Agreement parties today for a stock-take of implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid tonight declared an end to the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Defence Association’s ceasefire.

Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid is today poised to announce an end to the Ulster Defence Association ceasefire.

Loyalists staged a peaceful demonstration on the Crumlin Road after Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid gave the Ulster Defence Association one last chance to stop its violence or have its ceasefire declared over.

The IRA has decided to decommission weapons in two of its secret arms dumps which have been examined by government appointed inspectors, it was claimed tonight.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen and the Northern Secretary John Reid are meeting to review the political situation following the suspension of the Stormont Assembly.

The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended today as the Governments prepared for a new round of intensive negotiations to try to end the deadlock threatening the future of the peace process.

David Trimble flew out of Northern Ireland today on what looked certain to be his final day as the Province’s First Minister.