Cowen: No plans to postpone North elections

Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen has said the Irish and British governments have no plans to postpone the Northern Assembly elections scheduled for May 29.

Speaking after a meeting with Northern Secretary Paul Murphy today, Mr Cowen also welcomed yesterday's statement by Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams clarifying the IRA's stance, saying it had created space for movement.

Mr Cowen is now meeting with Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness at Stormont.

Earlier today, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, and Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble said the statement did not go far enough towards promising an end to all IRA activity.