Ahern close to sealing historic EU deal

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern was on the brink of his finest political hour last night as the first European constitution was close to being agreed.

But his hopes of pulling off a double success by reaching agreement on a new Commission President proved difficult as talks continued late into the night.

All countries heaped praise on Mr Ahern for his six months of painstaking work, criss-crossing the 25 EU member states seeking compromise in order to achieve agreement on the constitution.