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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Decision due on DUP power-sharing | Decision due on DUP power-sharing |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The DUP's ruling executive is meeting to decide if it will nominate ministers to a power-sharing executive at Stormont. | |
| The British government is looking for an answer from the party this weekend, before Monday's devolution deadline. | |
| The British and Irish governments have said Stormont will be dissolved if the 26 March deadline is not met. | The British and Irish governments have said Stormont will be dissolved if the 26 March deadline is not met. |
| Sinn Fein's ard chomhairle (ruling executive) is also meeting, where one of the main issues will be devolution. | Sinn Fein's ard chomhairle (ruling executive) is also meeting, where one of the main issues will be devolution. |
| The 120-strong DUP executive meeting has been described by some party figures as the most important in its history. | The 120-strong DUP executive meeting has been described by some party figures as the most important in its history. |
| The politicians have gathered at Castlereagh Borough Council offices, with discussions expected to last until early Saturday afternoon. | |
| BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said: "Most observers believe the DUP leader, Ian Paisley, is ready, in principle, to share power. | BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said: "Most observers believe the DUP leader, Ian Paisley, is ready, in principle, to share power. |
| The parties have until 26 March to agree on power-sharing | The parties have until 26 March to agree on power-sharing |
| "But his party has been looking for an eight-week delay which will put a new Stormont executive on ice until late May." | "But his party has been looking for an eight-week delay which will put a new Stormont executive on ice until late May." |
| Mr Paisley held talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair twice within 48 hours this week, ahead of the deadline. | Mr Paisley held talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair twice within 48 hours this week, ahead of the deadline. |
| After the second meeting, Downing Street re-iterated that Monday's deadline stood. | After the second meeting, Downing Street re-iterated that Monday's deadline stood. |
| Mr Paisley said a "great deal of ground" had been covered. | Mr Paisley said a "great deal of ground" had been covered. |
| However, he earlier said a financial package offered by Chancellor Gordon Brown did not meet Northern Ireland's economic needs. | However, he earlier said a financial package offered by Chancellor Gordon Brown did not meet Northern Ireland's economic needs. |
| Mr Brown has promised an extra £1bn if devolution is back on Monday. | Mr Brown has promised an extra £1bn if devolution is back on Monday. |
| The cash is on top of £35bn promised by the government over four years. | The cash is on top of £35bn promised by the government over four years. |
| Sinn Fein's Mitchel McLaughlin said there were still those in the DUP who did not want power-sharing. | Sinn Fein's Mitchel McLaughlin said there were still those in the DUP who did not want power-sharing. |
| He said that if the deadline was not met, the assembly should be dissolved and all assembly members "sacked". | He said that if the deadline was not met, the assembly should be dissolved and all assembly members "sacked". |
| The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended since October 2002, amid allegations of an IRA spy ring at Stormont. | The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended since October 2002, amid allegations of an IRA spy ring at Stormont. |
| A subsequent court case collapsed. Direct rule has been in place since that date. | A subsequent court case collapsed. Direct rule has been in place since that date. |
| If devolution does not return, controversial water bills will be posted to homes in Northern Ireland within days. | If devolution does not return, controversial water bills will be posted to homes in Northern Ireland within days. |