Power-sharing on brink of collapse

THE North’s power-sharing Executive is on the point of collapse despite frantic attempts by the Government to rescue the peace process.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will meet with British prime minister Tony Blair for emergency talks tonight, but sources say the fallout over a police raid on Sinn Féin's Stormont offices will be too much for the Executive to survive.

There was frantic behind-the-scenes activity yesterday to avert a suspension, but a senior Government source last night said the outlook was bleak.