Rights speeches focus on Stormont

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has blamed the DUP for the current Stormont Executive deadlock.

In his 40th Anniversary Civil Rights Commemoration speech Mr McGuinness said that the DUP was refusing to accept power sharing.

In a speech on Friday evening, First Minister Peter Robinson said Sinn Fein was responsible for the deadlock.

He said there was "no good reason" why the Executive should not meet and get on with the work of Government.

President Mary McAleese was also attending the International Conference in Derry, and referred to the civil rights movement's significance "for the entire island of Ireland and beyond".

Her reference to the current Stormont government was to wish the first and deputy first ministers well as they "set their faces firmly towards a shared future".

SDLP leader Mark Durkan claimed that the DUP are excluding nationalists from the potential post of Justice Minister, in an "echo of the old Stormont".