NI Assembly is restored

Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid has restored devolved government to Northern Ireland just 24 hours after it was suspended.

The order, which came into effect at midnight on Saturday, gives the pro-Agreement parties another six weeks to try to break the deadlock in the political process.

Suspending the assembly sparked fury among republicans and there were fears the IRA might respond by breaking off contacts with General John de Chastelain's decommissioning body.

Following a meeting with the Irish Foreign Minister, Brian Cowen, at Hillsborough Castle, near Belfast, on Saturday, Dr Reid said he had been encouraged by their talks.

"We have a common mind and a common commitment to make this process work, it has been fruitful in throwing up ideas," he said.

We have a common mind and a common commitment to make this process work

Dr John Reid

The Northern Ireland secretary was in contact with the political parties involved in the process throughout the day before he made his final decision.

He said he hoped to make a further statement on the situation on Sunday.

"I can't guarantee success, all I do know is this: that we now have a space of additional time in order to illustrate, all of us, that the commitment we have in words to implementing this Agreement is put into practice," he said.

"I can assure you that from the point of view of those areas in my responsibility, you will see that illustrated."

Call for action

Mr Cowen said: "From the Irish Government's point of view, we believe it is necessary that we now move swiftly to restore the institutions."

He said the policing implementation plan could be published next week.

John Reid made the suspension announcement

The talks aimed at breaking the political deadlock had been given a "breathing space" following the suspension of the power-sharing executive by Dr Reid on Friday.

On Friday, he said the chance of reaching an agreement was "tantalisingly close".

Northern Ireland's parties are still struggling to find a resolution on the issues of decommissioning, policing, demilitarisation and concerns about the stability of the institutions.

It was the second time the political institutions had been suspended in 18 months.

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Sinn Fein accused Dr Reid of showing "an alarming state of complacency".

The party's Bairbre de Brun said: "I think the British Government and the Ulster Unionist Party need to understand that nationalists and republicans also have rights."

The reason for the 11 August deadline was that if Northern Ireland did not have a first and deputy first minister re-elected by then, the assembly would automatically fall, and fresh elections would be triggered.

Suspending the assembly before midnight on 11 August effectively pressed the 'pause' button on the assembly and on the other institutions set up under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.