We will work it out: NI ministers

The talks at Downing Street lasted for five hours

Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers have emerged after five hours of talks at Downing Street.

The agenda included Sinn Féin demands for the transfer of policing and justice powers and DUP concerns about the existence of the IRA Army Council.

Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness said they would continue to work to try and resolve their differences.

However, Mr Robinson said that the talks should have taken place in Northern Ireland.

"I believe an awful lot of what we have done today we should have done back in Belfast and we need to do back in Belfast. The problems are in Northern Ireland, they're not in London - I think London has enough problems of its own," he said.

"I think we need to get our procedures and I want those procedures to include all of the political parties that are in the assembly."

After coming out of the talks, Martin McGuinness said he thought it was "important to come to Downing Street".

'Critical'

"I listened to some of our political opponents back home being critical of the fact that we're here.

"But how else are we going to deal with the transfer of powers and policing and justice from London to the executive in Belfast if we don't speak to the British government?"

On Thursday, at a special sitting of the Assembly, Mr Robinson and McGuinness were appointed first and deputy first ministers.

Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin was also at Downing Street for the discussions.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised to host the talks after Sinn Féin apparently threatened to derail Mr Robinson's elevation as first minister to succeed Ian Paisley, his predecessor as DUP leader.