Paisley to meet Blair for further talks on power-sharing

DUP leader Ian Paisley is due to hold unscheduled talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair today as uncertainty continues to surround the planned restoration of devolution in the North.

The talks come as the DUP's executive prepares to meet tomorrow to make a decision on whether to enter a power-sharing Executive by Monday's deadline.

Last night, the party's officer board held talks late into the night on the matter, but the discussions ended without any decision or comment being made.

The DUP has so far failed to commit itself to meeting the deadline, which some observers believe is just a ploy to get more concessions from London.

The British government has insisted that the DUP and Sinn Féin must be sitting together in a power-sharing Executive by Monday or the whole devolution project in the North will be scrapped indefinitely.

However, Northern Secretary Peter Hain hinted yesterday that some kind of fudge deal may be agreed to give the DUP breathing space due to its continued reluctance to share power.

Such a delay would anger Sinn Féin and the SDLP, but the DUP claims it is needed for unionists to ensure that republicans are committed to the rule of law.