The Northern Ireland Secretary, Peter Mandelson, has told the province's party leaders that he plans to let the two MPs from Sinn Fein the political wing of the IRA use office facilities at Westminster.

At present the two, Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, are barred because they refuse to swear allegiance to the Queen.

All MPs will have a chance to vote on the proposals; the opposition Conservatives and the Ulster Unionists say the Labour government is abusing the rules of parliament.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service