Leaders meet to discuss NI elections

Leaders meet to discuss NI elections

Leaders meet to discuss NI elections

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble are meeting in Belfast in a bid to restore the power sharing executive.

The gathering comes amid suggestions that the Blair administration next week will announce plans for Assembly elections next month. Assembly elections were postponed in May.

Ministers have met with the Sinn Fein officials at Downing Street over the last months to seek a path beyond the current impasse on weapons decommissioning.

The PM himself and chief of staff Jonathan Powell held further “positive” talks with Mr Adams and deputy Martin McGuinness on Friday.

Devolution was suspended last October after it was alleged the IRA had infiltrated Stormont with an intelligence gathering unit.

November 13 has been mentioned as the most likely date for the elections.