Ahern renews call to Blair on North elections

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern increased pressure on the British prime minister to agree to call elections in the North when they met on the margins of an EU meeting in Rome at the weekend.

The Government is anxious that elections be called in the next 10 days and for the restoration of the Assembly and the executive.

A spokesperson for the British Government confirmed the two leaders had a short meeting and stressed that Mr Blair shared the view that the process must be moved forward.