UNIONIST Peter Robinson and republican Martin McGuinness last night pledged to work together to overcome their differences after taking office in Northern Ireland.
Talks with Gordon Brown and the Irish government in London are scheduled today, after Mr Robinson assumed the First Minister's position from the Rev Ian Paisley.
Handing down responsibilities for policing and justice to a local minister and divisi
ons over an Irish language act have divided Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party.
Mr Robinson, DUP leader, said: "It isn't an indication of strength or success, it is simply an indication that we were unable to agree."
The DUP believes there is not community confidence at present to devolve security powers. Sinn Fein insists it was a commitment of the 2006 St Andrews Agreement which paved the way to political power-sharing.
Sinn Fein deputy first minister Mr McGuinness said: "The war is over. We need to start talking to each other and not at each other. I believe that despite all of the challenges which lie ahead, we can continue to make progress."
Minutes before leaving office, Mr Paisley, 82, said he had agreed to work with former IRA commander Mr McGuinness to create a better future for Northern Ireland.
He said: "These 12 months have been the most important of Ulster's modern history. We have come from darkness to light, out of the power and grip of terrorism into freedom and peace, and I think that we can rejoice in that."
The full article contains 251 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
