(10 Apr 1998) English/Nat
A Northern Ireland peace deal looks ready to be signed within the next few hours.
Republicans and Unionists and representatives of the British and Irish government met through the night to hammer out a historic deal aimed at ending 30 years of violence.
Sinn Fein, the political wing of the I-R-A, is said to have strong reservations but is expected to go along with the agreement which would pave the way for referendums in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.
After talking through the night, the chairman of the I-R-A-allied Sinn Fein party said progress had been made.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"In our earlier reviews, we pointed out that Sinn Fein had difficulties with the Mitchell document itself. The core issues are British constitutional change, the proposed nature and power of all-Ireland institutions and the need remove the Unionist veto in all three levels, all three strands. The issue of policing and prisoners are also critical. We earlier pointed out that the Unionists were attempting to take the substance out of this paper in a number of key areas and they succeeded to some degree in strand two. This has now been reversed. There has also been some other progress. In particular in strand one. Sinn Fein continues to be opposed to an assembly. Nevertheless, many of the checks, balances and safeguards which argued for in the negotiations have now been secured."
SUPER CAPTION: Mitchel McLaughlin, Sinn Fein chairman
On Thursday night, senior Ulster Unionist John Taylor - who vowed early this week not to touch a draft deal with a 40-foot barge pole - was talking of a possible breakthrough.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well I told you this morning, that there was a 10 percent chance and if by 12 o'clock the Irish had met us and agreed on strand two, it would go up to 50 percent. I'm afraid we haven't met the Irish today yet. Nonetheless, we have made progress on strand two by other means."
SUPER CAPTION: John Taylor, Ulster Unionist Chief Negotiator
Earlier in the day, his pro-British Protestant party - considered most central to an agreement - left for their headquarters to present the emerging shape of an agreement to the group's 110-member executive committee.
The signs were hopeful - Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble received a standing ovation before being given full endorsement to carry on with the talks.
But the scale of opposition outside the talks process to any new deal was demonstrated by ugly scuffles outside the U-U-P headquarters building.
Protestant supporters of the Reverend Ian Paisley, whose Democratic Unionist Party has boycotted the talks, expressed their fierce opposition to any deal.
Waving British Union Jack flags and shouting "no surrender", they accused Trimble of selling out to Republican demands for an end to Northern Ireland's constitutional links with London.
Hundreds of supporters of Paisley later took their protest to the gates of Stormont Castle, where they were joined by the Reverend himself.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We are seeing tonight the 'jackboot' of what will happen if this deal goes through. Inside these gates, you have scores of I-R-A men armed with illegal weapon and the police will do nothing about them and yet to me, an elected representative, I am not permitted be in."
SUPER CAPTION: Ian Paisley, Leader of Democratic Unionist Party
The angry loyalists later broke into the grounds of Stormont as the deadline approached.
They tried to reach the buildings where the politicians were engaged in a final round of discussions, but riot police with dogs held them back.
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