Leaders discuss devolution deadline for NI

British and Irish leaders have met to work on a strategy for restoring devolution in Northern Ireland today.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and other senior Irish government officials met Tony Blair at the British leader's official country retreat, Chequers, west London.

"They will review the current political situation in Northern Ireland and give renewed focus and energy to their joint strategy for the full implementation of the Good Friday agreement," Ahern's office said, referring to the 1998 peace deal for Northern Ireland.

The governments have set a deadline of November 24 for getting the Northern Ireland parties to elect a Catholic-Protestant administration.

The British Government has said that it will abolish the Northern Ireland Assembly, which wields the power to block or elect an administration, if the November 24 deadline is not met.

Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern said that if the November 24 deadline passes without a deal, Britain and Ireland would impose a 'plan B' that would involve closer cooperation between both governments on Northern Ireland.

(DS)