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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Warning on final day of NI talks | Warning on final day of NI talks |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Parties in Northern Ireland have until Friday afternoon to reach a deal over justice powers before the British and Irish governments publish proposals. | Parties in Northern Ireland have until Friday afternoon to reach a deal over justice powers before the British and Irish governments publish proposals. |
| Talks continued until 0500 GMT at Hillsborough Castle, with insiders saying the mood was more constructive. They are to resume mid-morning. | |
| Deadlock remains over the timing of the power transfer and handling of parades. | Deadlock remains over the timing of the power transfer and handling of parades. |
| The US Envoy to Northern Ireland has warned of serious economic consequences if politicians fail to reach agreement. | 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. |
| If the parties appear tantalisingly close to a deal, they could be given more time Mark Simpson Read Mark Simpson's analysis | If the parties appear tantalisingly close to a deal, they could be given more time Mark Simpson Read Mark Simpson's analysis |
| 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. |
| 'Secret talks' | 'Secret talks' |
| It was also revealed on Thursday night that the Orange Order hosted secret talks between the DUP and UUP at the end of last year, aimed at promoting unionist unity during elections and preventing Sinn Fein becoming the biggest political party in Northern Ireland. | It was also revealed on Thursday night that the Orange Order hosted secret talks between the DUP and UUP at the end of last year, aimed at promoting unionist unity during elections and preventing Sinn Fein becoming the biggest political party in Northern Ireland. |
| The issue of controversial Orange Order parades has caused friction in the negotiations, with Sinn Fein complaining that the DUP had made the abolition of the Parades Commission a "pre-condition" to a deal on policing and justice. | The issue of controversial Orange Order parades has caused friction in the negotiations, with Sinn Fein complaining that the DUP had made the abolition of the Parades Commission a "pre-condition" to a deal on policing and justice. |
| Earlier on Thursday, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams reiterated that devolution of policing and justice could not be linked to the parades issue. | Earlier on Thursday, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams reiterated that devolution of policing and justice could not be linked to the parades issue. |
| "Anybody who thinks that the price of policing and justice is a walk down the Garvaghy Road or Ardoyne is just ridiculous," he said. | "Anybody who thinks that the price of policing and justice is a walk down the Garvaghy Road or Ardoyne is just ridiculous," he said. |
| 'Resolving disputes' | 'Resolving disputes' |
| Speaking before briefing Sinn Fein party officers on the state of the talks, he said there was still a lot of work to be done. | Speaking before briefing Sinn Fein party officers on the state of the talks, he said there was still a lot of work to be done. |
| DUP MLA Sammy Wilson said that his party was focused on addressing the parading issue and added there needed to be a mechanism in place to resolve parade disputes at "a local level". | DUP MLA Sammy Wilson said that his party was focused on addressing the parading issue and added there needed to be a mechanism in place to resolve parade disputes at "a local level". |
| At a roundtable session on Thursday afternoon, the talks were widened to consider the problems at the heart of the Stormont Executive. | At a roundtable session on Thursday afternoon, the talks were widened to consider the problems at the heart of the Stormont Executive. |
| The negotiations are being led by Secretary of State Shaun Woodward and Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin after the British and Irish prime ministers 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 British and Irish prime ministers left Northern Ireland on Wednesday without a deal. |
| Gordon Brown and Brian 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". | Gordon Brown and Brian 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". |