Paisley and McGuinness call on Hain to leave office early

DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Féin's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness have jointly called on the Northern Secretary Peter Hain to quit his offices before devolution returns to the North.

In an unprecedented collaboration, the two drafted and signed a letter to Peter Hain requesting his early departure from his offices at Stormont Castle.

Mr Hain has welcomed the initiative as further proof of the will among unionists and republicans to make their coalition work.

He said he would be delighted to leave to aid preparations for the new regime.

He told the BBC he believes the planned devolution on May 8th "will stick".