Fears of last-minute glitches cast shadow over North deal

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are expected to press ahead with unveiling a historic agreement between the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin in Belfast on Wednesday.

Despite huge opposition to the possible release of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe's killers, both governments are expected to agree to this if they get a commitment IRA weapons will be decommissioned.

The deal would involve IRA guns being put out of use in two huge acts of decommissioning this month and the two parties sharing power by March.