Leaders travel together to talks

Alex Salmond, flanked by Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson

Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness have arrived together at a political summit in Scotland.

The British-Irish Council is meeting at Hopetoun House, a stately home outside Edinburgh.

NI's first and deputy first ministers have been at odds amid difficulties in the Stormont Executive but the two men arrived by car together.

Set up under the Good Friday Agreement, the council's aim is to promote good relations between island communities.

Among those attending are political leaders from the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen is making his first official visit to Scotland for the event.

As the event got under way, Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond said it was a "fantastic opportunity to co-operate".

Honoured

Meanwhile, former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds has been recognised for his work in the NI peace process.

The Flax Trust honoured Mr Reynolds during a gala ball held at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

The charity said he had demonstrated "leadership, integrity, statesmanship and commitment during his time as Irish leader from 1992 to 1994".

Mr Reynolds co-signed the Downing Street Declaration - considered a forerunner to the Good Friday Agreement - with Prime Minister John Major in December 1993.

The Flax Trust, which was formed in Belfast in 1977, is committed to the "reconciliation of a divided community through economic and social development, bringing peace to both communities, one person and one job at a time".