Assembly leaders' election falls at first hurdle

The first bid by Northern Ireland Assembly members to elect a First Minister and a Deputy First Minister today failed.

Democratic Unionist Leader the Rev Ian Paisley rejected an attempt by Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams to have him appointed First Minister alongside Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister.

During a 14-minute session of the Assembly, Mr Adams said: “I want to move that Iain Paisley be returned as First Minister and Martin McGuinness by returned as Deputy First Minister on the restoration of devolved government”.

Mr Paisley, however, when asked by Assembly Speaker Eileen Bell if he accepted the nomination replied: “Certainly not."

Northern Ireland Assembly members have been given a November 24 deadline to try and form a power-sharing executive headed by the DUP and Sinn Féin.