Blair stays on in Ulster

Tony Blair is today staging a second day of talks in Northern Ireland aimed at clearing the way for the restoration of the Province's power-sharing executive.

The Prime Minister delayed a return to Downing Street after all-party talks went on late into the night at Hillsborough Castle outside Belfast.

One stumbling block appeared to Sinn Fein's reluctance to commit itself to the full disarmament of the IRA and a declaration that the Republican "war" is at an end.

However, some reports claimed the IRA was preparing for a huge destruction of weapons and a "war is over" announcement on St Patrick's Day, 17 March.

This would trigger troop withdrawals, reforms of policing in the Province and the restoration of Ulster's power-sharing assembly direct rule. It would be the biggest single boost for the peace process since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

The latest round of talks features Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble-Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams and Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern.

All sides confirmed progress had been made and republicans were upbeat. Sinn Fein MP Pat Doherty said that further talks would "give us all a chance to refocus on the remaining work that has to be done in terms of policing, demilitarisation, criminal justice, human rights, the Equality Bill and the whole question of the institutions".

But Mr Trimble warned that the talks would fail if tough sanctions are not installed to guard against future IRA activity.