Parties to move on Good Friday review

New talks on the review of the Good Friday Agreement are expected to begin in Belfast next week.

British and Irish officials are set to call all sides together, possibly as early as next Tuesday.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern are understood to be pushing for major progress in the talks within a month, in advance of the tense summer marching season.

It is understood both men will become involved in face-to-face talks if it is viewed as helpful.

Review talks on the agreement hosted by the two governments were halted last month after they failed to reach a breakthrough.

News of the new initiative emerged after Tony Blair’s Chief-of-Staff Jonathan Powell held fresh talks with Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party at Stormont.