Decision on first and deputy-first minister due today in North

Sinn Féin and the DUP will indicate their intentions to nominate first and deputy-first ministers at Stormont today.

It could mean that Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness will be shoulder to shoulder as leaders of a new power-sharing executive.

If the DUP agrees to it, an Assembly may become a reality next year.

The British and Irish governments are hoping that Rev Paisley agrees to allow his name to go forward, in some form, today as a potential first minister.

Talks continued late into the night on a form of words and arrangements that would be acceptable to both the DUP and Sinn Féin.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said that he wants a decision one way or the other.