Richard Haass talks 'end without deal' in Northern Ireland

BBC News

Talks to resolve some of the most divisive issues that have hampered the Northern Ireland peace process appear to have broken up without agreement.

Northern Ireland's five main parties met through the night in a final effort to settle differences over parades, the flying of flags and how to deal with the legacy of the Troubles.

Former US diplomat Dr Richard Haass, who chaired the talks, is thought to have been unable to broker a deal.

Further details are expected shortly.

The overnight negotiations were on a seventh set of draft proposals put forward during the talks.

The only official statement issued so far has come from Sinn Féin.

The party said the proposals tabled provided the "basis for agreement" and they would be recommended for approval to the party executive, the BBC's Andy Martin reported.

But the DUP, the largest unionist party, is believed to be unlikely to "find enough in this document" to agree to it, out correspondent added.

A deadline for agreement had been set for Monday evening, but the talks continued into the early hours of Tuesday.

The three key issues have been:

During the talks, many had expressed optimism that a deal would be reached.

On Sunday, Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt had said the talks were "80 to 90% over the line".

Arriving for discussions on Monday, Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said he was "fairly confident" a deal could be reached.

"These issues will not go away so now is the time to deal with them," he said.

Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness had said it would be a "humiliation" if Dr Haass and his co-chair, Prof Meghan O'Sullivan, returned to the United States without securing a deal.

Dr Haass and Prof O'Sullivan were brought to Northern Ireland in July by the first and deputy first ministers.