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PM talks to avert Stormont crisis DUP, Sinn Fein leaders meet Brown
(about 1 hour later)
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has emerged from talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London without making any comment. DUP leader Peter Robinson is expected to hold taks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Tuesday evening.
It follows speculation Sinn Féin may derail Peter Robinson's elevation as Northern Ireland's first minister. The talks are over doubts about whether Sinn Féin will disrupt the handover of power between Ian Paisley and Peter Robinson in the assembly on Thursday.
Earlier, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams also held talks with Mr Brown.
Sinn Féin described the meeting as a private discussion and Mr Adams left through the back door of 10 Downing Street without commenting.
Senior government sources have been trying to dampen the sense of an impending crisis - they say all the two parties need is reassurance that the other is serious about devolution, and they believe a resolution can and will be found.
Sinn Féin is known to be unhappy at the DUP's continued veto of devolving policing and justice. A crisis could result in an assembly election.Sinn Féin is known to be unhappy at the DUP's continued veto of devolving policing and justice. A crisis could result in an assembly election.
It's understood DUP leader Mr Robinson may meet Mr Brown in London later. Sinn Féin and DUP leaderships had talks at Stormont on Monday.
It has also emerged that the Sinn Féin and DUP leaderships had talks at Stormont on Monday. 'Formality'
Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said: "I'm just going back into my office to continue with my work. It was expected to be a formality on Thursday, after Ian Paisley stepped down as first minister to be replaced by Peter Robinson, that Sinn Féin would nominate Martin McGuinness as deputy first minister.
On Tuesday afternoon, Mr McGuinness said: "I'm just going back into my office to continue with my work.
"Obviously you all know that discussions are taking place on an ongoing basis to deal with the outstanding issues that St Andrews threw up and that's exactly where things are at.""Obviously you all know that discussions are taking place on an ongoing basis to deal with the outstanding issues that St Andrews threw up and that's exactly where things are at."
It was expected to be a formality on Thursday, after Ian Paisley stepped down as first minister to be replaced by Peter Robinson, that Sinn Féin would nominate Mr McGuinness as deputy first minister.
If Mr McGuinness is not nominated, the two parties have one week to resolve the issue before the Northern Ireland Secretary steps in.If Mr McGuinness is not nominated, the two parties have one week to resolve the issue before the Northern Ireland Secretary steps in.
Shaun Woodward could call an election to break the deadlock.Shaun Woodward could call an election to break the deadlock.
The potential crisis is serious enough to have got the attention of both London and Dublin with telephone diplomacy involving the two governments.
In a statement, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said his party was focused on talks to resolve outstanding issues such as the devolution of policing and justice and an Irish language act.
BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport said it was difficult to gauge how serious the situation was.BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport said it was difficult to gauge how serious the situation was.
"If they (Sinn Féin) don't actually nominate Martin McGuinness, then we get into what is being called 'the nuclear option'."If they (Sinn Féin) don't actually nominate Martin McGuinness, then we get into what is being called 'the nuclear option'.
"This would mean that the secretary of state would have to go for a fresh election which, on the face of it, you would think nobody would want at this stage."This would mean that the secretary of state would have to go for a fresh election which, on the face of it, you would think nobody would want at this stage.
"My guess is that they would probably prefer to settle this, having won a concession here or there, rather than going the whole way.""My guess is that they would probably prefer to settle this, having won a concession here or there, rather than going the whole way."