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| DUP and Sinn Fein in joint letter | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The DUP and Sinn Fein have asked the Northern Ireland Secretary to move out of his offices at Stormont. | The DUP and Sinn Fein have asked the Northern Ireland Secretary to move out of his offices at Stormont. |
| In a letter signed by Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness, Peter Hain was asked to vacate his office before power sharing begins in early May. | In a letter signed by Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness, Peter Hain was asked to vacate his office before power sharing begins in early May. |
| It is thought to be the first letter jointly drafted and signed by Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein politicians. | |
| Mr Hain told Broadcasting House on BBC Radio 4 he would be delighted to leave. | Mr Hain told Broadcasting House on BBC Radio 4 he would be delighted to leave. |
| "The two most polarised parties have done what they have never been willing to do before, to share power on 8 May, I believe it will stick," he said. | "The two most polarised parties have done what they have never been willing to do before, to share power on 8 May, I believe it will stick," he said. |
| "Confirmation has come in a letter I have just received, the first one ever jointly signed by Ian Paisley and his old foe, Martin McGuinness, as first and deputy first ministers designate." | "Confirmation has come in a letter I have just received, the first one ever jointly signed by Ian Paisley and his old foe, Martin McGuinness, as first and deputy first ministers designate." |
| Devolved government is to return to Northern Ireland in May following an agreement between the DUP and Sinn Fein leaders. | Devolved government is to return to Northern Ireland in May following an agreement between the DUP and Sinn Fein leaders. |
| On 26 March, Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams, sitting side by side for their first news conference in Stormont, confirmed that power-sharing would begin on 8 May. | On 26 March, Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams, sitting side by side for their first news conference in Stormont, confirmed that power-sharing would begin on 8 May. |
| Mr Paisley said the DUP was committed to full participation in government and Mr Adams said it was a "new era". | Mr Paisley said the DUP was committed to full participation in government and Mr Adams said it was a "new era". |
| The British and Irish governments had said they would shut the assembly if an executive was not agreed. | The British and Irish governments had said they would shut the assembly if an executive was not agreed. |