Final key element of North peace deal agreed after 120 hours of talks

THE North pulled back from political paralysis last night as the last key element of the peace process was finally agreed.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown heralded the deal on devolving police powers to Belfast as an historic moment which closed the chapter on decades of violence.

In a landmark deal hammered out after 120 hours of tough negotiations the DUP agreed to restore justice and policing to local control in the North from April 12 in return for a fast-track review of how Orange Order parade routes are decided.