DUP told share power or assembly is finished

DUBLIN and London will "call time" on the North's devolved assembly, if no power-sharing deal is struck by November, the two governments declared yesterday.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British PM Tony Blair made it clear that, if the assembly is abandoned, Dublin would command much greater influence over the six counties.

The Taoiseach and Mr Blair indicated that, if the DUP triggered the collapse of devolution by refusing to share power with Sinn Féin, the governments would push ahead with "Plan B" which entails moving towards joint management of the North through strengthened cross border bodies.