All night talks hold hope of peace deal in Northern Ireland

THE POPULATION of Northern Ireland last night went to bed hoping this morning would bring the dawn of a new era of co-operation rather than continuing conflict.

Late last night, hopes were rising of a breakthrough in the talks at Hillsborough Castle, which involved both Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern. Mr Blair's official spokesman said the participants in the talks were preparing to go on through the night in the hope of delivering the long sought-after breakthrough which would bring a new administration into being.

Some close to the talks were saying privately that the chances of success are better than 50-50.

Mr Blair's spokesman said: "The mood is far better than we left earlier today. The people are far more focussed and because we know how important this evening could be, progress has been made, but there is still some way to go.

"But we believe it can be done and should be done. And we believe there is no reason, provided people focus and face up to it, why it should not be done by the morning."

He said that in "an ideal world" the Prime Minister would be in Cabinet today. He added: "Do not look for `Good Friday Mark II'. We do not intend to be here on Good Friday."

Although it seemed that no document, even in draft form, has been placed by the governments before the parties, the various elements of a possible deal were said to have been rehearsed in detail.

The IRA chose yesterday to issue its annual Easter statement. This declared: "IRA guns are silent," but it made no reference to the decommissioning of the republican organisation's weapons which remains at the heart of the negotiations. It declared opaquely: "If the political will exists the peace process contains the potential to resolve the conflict and deliver a durable peace." This non-committal tone may mean that further statements from either the IRA or Sinn Fein could form part of any agreed deal.

Earlier in the day, Mr Blair and Mr Ahern had returned to their respective capitalsfor parliamentary business before heading back to Hillsborough Castle near Belfast for last night's talks. British and Irish officials, with the SDLP and Sinn Fein, remained at Hillsborough for continuing contacts.