Seamus Mallon said he thought UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern would be able to make a significant announcement.

This would concern the number of ministerial departments to be set up to run the affairs of the province, their functions and details of agreement on the north-south bodies.

Only a day ago, Mr Mallon warned the Good Friday Agreement would be in jeopardy if no deal was reached within 10 days.

His comments were branded "unhelpful" by First Minister David Trimble at talks in Stormont with all the Northern Ireland political parties.

After the talks, which also included Mr Blair, Mr Mallon said he believed "we will be able to make a deadline of next week. I think that it is essential that we do".

Implementation of the Good Friday accord has been stalled because unionist leaders are refusing to allow Sinn Fein to take up seats in the new assembly until they have begun decommissioning their arms.

Mr Mallon blamed the failure of Mr Trimble's Ulster Unionist Party to co-operate in negotiations over the new bodies.

His latest comments come after Mr Blair delivered a historic address to the two houses of the Irish parliament.