Ahern seals late night deal on EU constitution

EUROPE'S leaders buried their differences just long enough to agree a constitution last night, but failed to agree on the important post of commission president.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern got a standing ovation from his fellow EU leaders for his mammoth efforts to conclude the deal on the constitution that will mark this Irish presidency as one of the most successful in the European Union's history.

However, at the back of their minds must have been the battle facing them to get the document agreed by their citizens and especially the nine countries planning to hold a referendum.