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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Loyalist held in Stormont alert | Loyalist held in Stormont alert |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Convicted loyalist killer Michael Stone is being held after attempting to enter Stormont during a key debate to pave the way for restoration of devolution. | Convicted loyalist killer Michael Stone is being held after attempting to enter Stormont during a key debate to pave the way for restoration of devolution. |
| Stone was arrested after walking into Parliament Buildings with a bag. Police said the building was evacuated following reports of a device. | Stone was arrested after walking into Parliament Buildings with a bag. Police said the building was evacuated following reports of a device. |
| In 1988, Stone murdered three men at the funerals of three IRA members. | In 1988, Stone murdered three men at the funerals of three IRA members. |
| The Stormont meeting was being held to hear if the DUP and Sinn Fein would indicate ministerial candidates. | The Stormont meeting was being held to hear if the DUP and Sinn Fein would indicate ministerial candidates. |
| The alert happened about 20 minutes into the proceedings and Northern Ireland's politicians were quickly ushered out of the building. | The alert happened about 20 minutes into the proceedings and Northern Ireland's politicians were quickly ushered out of the building. |
| BBC political correspondent Gareth Gordon said security sources were treating an object left at the building as a live device. He said it looked as if the building would remain evacuated for the rest of the day. | BBC political correspondent Gareth Gordon said security sources were treating an object left at the building as a live device. He said it looked as if the building would remain evacuated for the rest of the day. |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has ordered an urgent report from Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde into the breach of security. | Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has ordered an urgent report from Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde into the breach of security. |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair said that despite the breach, the St Andrew's Agreement remained the only way forward. | |
| Speaking from Downing Street, Mr Blair said: "No move forward in NorthernIreland is easy, we've learned that over 10 years. | |
| "It's not because the people, or indeed, the leaders in Northern Ireland want it to be so, but becauseeach step towards a different and better future is taken alongside the memory ofa wretched and divisive past." | |
| Friday had been billed by the two governments as a "critical day", with politicians gathered to hear if the DUP and Sinn Fein would indicate their candidates for the first and deputy first minister jobs. | |
| During the debate, Sinn Fein said Martin McGuinness was its choice for deputy first minister. | |
| In his speech, Mr Paisley said the circumstances had not been reached where there could be a nomination or designation by his party. | In his speech, Mr Paisley said the circumstances had not been reached where there could be a nomination or designation by his party. |
| The assembly had been meeting at Stormont | The assembly had been meeting at Stormont |
| "There can only be an agreement involving Sinn Fein when there has been delivery by the republican movement, tested and proved over a credible period in terms of support for the PSNI, the courts, the rule of law, a complete end to paramilitary and criminal activity and the removal of terrorist structures," he said. | "There can only be an agreement involving Sinn Fein when there has been delivery by the republican movement, tested and proved over a credible period in terms of support for the PSNI, the courts, the rule of law, a complete end to paramilitary and criminal activity and the removal of terrorist structures," he said. |
| "Clearly, as Sinn Fein is not yet ready to take the decisive step forward on policing, the DUP is not required to commit to any aspect of power-sharing in advance of such certainty." | "Clearly, as Sinn Fein is not yet ready to take the decisive step forward on policing, the DUP is not required to commit to any aspect of power-sharing in advance of such certainty." |
| UUP leader Sir Reg Empey challenged the Speaker, Eileen Bell, as to whether DUP leader Ian Paisley had actually indicated his party would nominate its choice for first minister. | UUP leader Sir Reg Empey challenged the Speaker, Eileen Bell, as to whether DUP leader Ian Paisley had actually indicated his party would nominate its choice for first minister. |
| "It requires to be clarified as to whether or not we have witnessed a marriage or an engagement today," he said. | "It requires to be clarified as to whether or not we have witnessed a marriage or an engagement today," he said. |
| However, Mrs Bell said that it was now a matter for Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain to decide. | However, Mrs Bell said that it was now a matter for Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain to decide. |
| SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: "There is as much hollow farce as there is historic significance in what we have witnessed this morning". | SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: "There is as much hollow farce as there is historic significance in what we have witnessed this morning". |
| 'Make-or-break' | |
| If all goes to the British and Irish government's plan, assembly elections will be held in March, with devolution restored later that month. | If all goes to the British and Irish government's plan, assembly elections will be held in March, with devolution restored later that month. |
| The DUP and Sinn Fein get to nominate first and deputy first ministers as they are the largest unionist and nationalist parties in the assembly. | The DUP and Sinn Fein get to nominate first and deputy first ministers as they are the largest unionist and nationalist parties in the assembly. |
| For months the British and Irish governments billed 24 November as a make-or-break date. | For months the British and Irish governments billed 24 November as a make-or-break date. |
| But since last month's St Andrews Agreement, the deadline has been watered down, with no talk of the politicians' wages and allowances being cut. | But since last month's St Andrews Agreement, the deadline has been watered down, with no talk of the politicians' wages and allowances being cut. |
| Friday's meeting of the assembly was the first since legislation was passed to redesignate it as a transitional body which will be dissolved in January, to pave the way for elections in March. | Friday's meeting of the assembly was the first since legislation was passed to redesignate it as a transitional body which will be dissolved in January, to pave the way for elections in March. |
| Ahead of the meeting, Mr Hain warned that he was prepared to pull the plug on Stormont unless it seemed that progress could be made. | Ahead of the meeting, Mr Hain warned that he was prepared to pull the plug on Stormont unless it seemed that progress could be made. |