What are the British and Irish prime ministers likely to say today?
Tony Blair and the Irish prime minister, Bertie Ahern, are expected to announce the resurrection of the assembly, at first without full executive powers. They hope local politicians will overcome distrust and re-establish a power-sharing executive. The assembly, opening for debate and for scrutinising direct rule, will be time-limited. Failure to reach agreement by late November may lead to greater inter-governmental cooperation involving the Irish Republic.
