Assembly election likely in March

The Northern Ireland public is expected to face an assembly election next March, just weeks ahead of the date in which the restoration of devolution is due to take place.

It is understood that the legislation which will bring the St Andrew's Agreement into play will contain a date for an election, rather than a referendum – possibly on March 7, 2007.

The law is expected to go before parliament on November 21.

Over the past few weeks tensions have been mounting among the British and Irish Government's that the November 24 deadline would not be met.

This is also the date in which DUP leader Ian paisley and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness are due to be elected as Shadow First and Deputy First Ministers.

The DUP has said that they are not convinced that Sinn Fein will change their policy on policing and openly support the PSNI, and until this is achieved, they will not enter in to government with them.

Earlier this week, senior Sinn Fein members had to step up their personal security after receiving death threats from dissident republicans who are opposed to the proposed changes to the party's policing issues.

The party has already been warned that an attack is possible in a bid to derail the current political process of restoring devolution.

Commenting on the threats, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said: "The Sinn Fein leadership is not going to be deflected from what we think is the right thing to do for the republican struggle.”

Mr Adams added that his party are still working hard to come to an agreement and as soon as he is very clear that we have delivery on the outstanding issues of policing he intends to go to the ard chomhairle to recommend a special ard fheis on policing.

However before Sinn Fein will fully commit, they want the DUP to agree to a date for the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont.

The new government legislation is also expected to contain a requirement on the Stormont Assembly that it will report back to the Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain, one year after the restoration of devolution takes place, to inform him on what progress is being made on the transfer of powers.

(EF)