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| Hopes fade for completion of deal | Hopes fade for completion of deal |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Sinn Fein has blamed DUP demands on parading for a delay in reaching a deal on devolution of policing and justice. | Sinn Fein has blamed DUP demands on parading for a delay in reaching a deal on devolution of policing and justice. |
| Although the DUP leader Peter Robinson said a deal was possible if conditions were right, there is speculation that an agreement is unlikely on Friday. | Although the DUP leader Peter Robinson said a deal was possible if conditions were right, there is speculation that an agreement is unlikely on Friday. |
| Earlier the DUP said it was prepared "to do business" and talk as long as parties are "willing to talk" to them. | Earlier the DUP said it was prepared "to do business" and talk as long as parties are "willing to talk" to them. |
| The talks were called to resolve the impasse over the devolution of policing and justice powers to the NI Assembly. | The talks were called to resolve the impasse over the devolution of policing and justice powers to the NI Assembly. |
| Sinn Fein has said it has been "remarkably patient" and was trying "to get things working properly". | Sinn Fein has said it has been "remarkably patient" and was trying "to get things working properly". |
| There had been speculation that the British and Irish premiers would return to NI on Friday, but Downing Street sources say that is now "less likely". | There had been speculation that the British and Irish premiers would return to NI on Friday, but Downing Street sources say that is now "less likely". |
| It was thought Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen would return, but only if the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein were close to finalising a deal on devolving policing and justice. | It was thought Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen would return, but only if the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein were close to finalising a deal on devolving policing and justice. |
| Northern Ireland's political parties have been locked in talks at Hillsborough Castle, outside Belfast, since Monday. | Northern Ireland's political parties have been locked in talks at Hillsborough Castle, outside Belfast, since Monday. |
| On Wednesday, the two prime ministers gave Northern Ireland's political parties until Friday afternoon to reach a deal over justice powers before the two governments publish their own proposals. | On Wednesday, the two prime ministers gave Northern Ireland's political parties until Friday afternoon to reach a deal over justice powers before the two governments publish their own proposals. |
| Speaking to the media on Friday afternoon, Mr Robinson said he was "not interested in deadlines". | Speaking to the media on Friday afternoon, Mr Robinson said he was "not interested in deadlines". |
| "If the deal isn't right it won't be done," he said. | "If the deal isn't right it won't be done," he said. |
| "We are not afraid of the devolution of policing and justice. | "We are not afraid of the devolution of policing and justice. |
| "But, until I have a package that looks right, I'll not be going to my party colleagues to ask for support." | "But, until I have a package that looks right, I'll not be going to my party colleagues to ask for support." |
| Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster on Friday evening, Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy said his party had to "assess" the situation. | Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster on Friday evening, Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy said his party had to "assess" the situation. |
| "We do have to come to a stage where, if it isn't working properly, we have a responsibility to be honest with people and say the basis on which we went into these institutions, the basis on which we agreed with the DUP and the two governments that they would work, is not working," he said. | "We do have to come to a stage where, if it isn't working properly, we have a responsibility to be honest with people and say the basis on which we went into these institutions, the basis on which we agreed with the DUP and the two governments that they would work, is not working," he said. |
| "We're busy talking to the two governments, to the DUP. | "We're busy talking to the two governments, to the DUP. |
| "Our preference would be to get an agreement so we can move on from here. But if that's not available we would have to assess where we go from there." | "Our preference would be to get an agreement so we can move on from here. But if that's not available we would have to assess where we go from there." |
| Deadlock | Deadlock |
| Talks continued until 0500 GMT at Hillsborough and resumed mid-morning. | Talks continued until 0500 GMT at Hillsborough and resumed mid-morning. |
| Deadlock remains over the timing of the power transfer and the handling of parades. | Deadlock remains over the timing of the power transfer and the handling of parades. |
| There is a heavy security presence around the talks venue amid the speculation that the premiers could return if a deal is done. | There is a heavy security presence around the talks venue amid the speculation that the premiers could return if a deal is done. |
| SDLP leader Mark Durkan said that the parties were on the threshold of either completed devolution or a "big mess". | SDLP leader Mark Durkan said that the parties were on the threshold of either completed devolution or a "big mess". |
| ANALYSIS Mark Devenport, BBC NI political editor | ANALYSIS Mark Devenport, BBC NI political editor |
| I'm wary about making any pronouncements about what the mood is like at the talks. On Tuesday night, it looked like all systems go for a deal then the next day things fell apart. | I'm wary about making any pronouncements about what the mood is like at the talks. On Tuesday night, it looked like all systems go for a deal then the next day things fell apart. |
| However, on Thursday evening sources were saying serious and genuine work was going on. Whether the politicians felt chastened over public anger over their failure to do a deal, I'm not sure. | However, on Thursday evening sources were saying serious and genuine work was going on. Whether the politicians felt chastened over public anger over their failure to do a deal, I'm not sure. |
| I'm not aware of any specific time set for a deadline but the governments will have to make a call on whether to publish their proposals. | I'm not aware of any specific time set for a deadline but the governments will have to make a call on whether to publish their proposals. |
| They will be reluctant to publish because that would mean acceptance no deal has been reached. | They will be reluctant to publish because that would mean acceptance no deal has been reached. |
| Read Mark Simpson's analysis | Read Mark Simpson's analysis |
| "We have had the outbursts here all week, but what we need are the outcomes and that's what we want to get today," he said. | "We have had the outbursts here all week, but what we need are the outcomes and that's what we want to get today," he said. |
| Meanwhile, the US Envoy to Northern Ireland has warned of serious economic consequences if politicians fail to reach agreement. | Meanwhile, the US Envoy to Northern Ireland has warned of serious economic consequences if politicians fail to reach agreement. |
| Declan Kelly said the consequences for the Northern Ireland economy would be serious in the short and long term if no deal emerged from the Hillsborough talks. | Declan Kelly said the consequences for the Northern Ireland economy would be serious in the short and long term if no deal emerged from the Hillsborough talks. |
| But Mr Kelly added that the US administration believed the parties were "tantalisingly close" to a deal and was hopeful and optimistic they would find an accommodation. | But Mr Kelly added that the US administration believed the parties were "tantalisingly close" to a deal and was hopeful and optimistic they would find an accommodation. |
| He revealed that the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has been playing a role in telephone diplomacy and has been kept up to date on an hour-by-hour basis with the progress of the negotiations. | He revealed that the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has been playing a role in telephone diplomacy and has been kept up to date on an hour-by-hour basis with the progress of the negotiations. |
| The negotiations are being led by Secretary of State Shaun Woodward and Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin after the premiers left Northern Ireland on Wednesday without a deal. | The negotiations are being led by Secretary of State Shaun Woodward and Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin after the premiers left Northern Ireland on Wednesday without a deal. |
| Mr Brown and Mr Cowen said they believed there was a "firm basis" for the parties to set a date in early May for the devolution of policing and justice and to "enhance the existing framework to deal more effectively with contentious parades". | Mr Brown and Mr Cowen said they believed there was a "firm basis" for the parties to set a date in early May for the devolution of policing and justice and to "enhance the existing framework to deal more effectively with contentious parades". |