N. Ireland Protestants Accept Deal to Save Power-Sharing Govt.
VOA News 04 February 2010
Northern Ireland's main Protestant party has agreed to a deal with Catholics on police and judiciary powers, saving the power-sharing government from possible collapse.
First Minister Peter Robinson says his Democratic Unionist Party agreed unanimously to, in his words, "support the way forward."
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Ireland's Prime Minister Brian Cowen are expected to provide details of the agreement Friday in Belfast.
The deal ends nearly two weeks of talks which saw the pro-Catholic Sinn Fein threaten to quit the power-sharing government with Protestants.
Sinn Fein has been demanding an immediate transfer of police and judiciary powers from London to Belfast.
The pro-British Protestants first wanted guarantees that they would not be restricted from holding parades celebrating 17th century battle victories.
Some of the parades pass through Catholic neighborhoods, which the Catholics call a deliberate provocation.
Some information for this report provided by Reuters and AP.
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