Sinn Fein begin talks with Ulster Unionists

Sinn Fein has begun talks with the Ulster Unionists in a bid to resolve the problems that caused marathon talks at Hillsborough to end inconclusively.

The SDLP say London and Dublin's proposals for sanctions are ill-thought and ill-conceived.

Sinn Fein's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness has met with senior Ulster Unionists and the party has also been in touch with the two governments, boosting hopes that talk of deadlock is premature.

Mr McGuinness' discussions with Unionists are believed to centre on the stability of the institutions with Sinn Fein seeking commitments to convince republicans that the UUP is serious about power-sharing.

"There must be more emphasis on everybody finding solutions to problems", McGuinness said, "instead of rushing immediately to sanctions".