Blair to engage in Belfast meeting tonight

Tony Blair is to travel to Belfast this evening to take part in a final push of peace negotiations in the North involving the US Government.

Blair's presence is being seen as an attempt to forge a breakthrough in policing and decommissioning, ahead of Bill Clinton's departure from office at the weekend.

The visit by Mr Blair follows talks in London between British, Irish and American officials in recent days, though Downing Street is once again playing down any expectation of an imminent breakthrough.

Bill Clinton's security advisor Jim Steinberg is also on his way to Belfast.