The British and Irish prime ministers say much has been achieved in the Northern Ireland peace process but an accord on restoring the province's power-sharing government is not yet complete.
Britain's Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart, Bertie Ahern, spoke in Belfast Wednesday, their latest deadline for agreement. The two men insisted a deal on the issue is very close and reaffirmed their commitment to continue efforts for an accord.
The Irish Republican Army said Tuesday it turned down a demand by hard-line Protestants that it provide photographic evidence of its disarmament. The head of the IRA's political wing says that to do so would mean public humiliation.
Negotiators are trying to revive a power-sharing administration established under the 1998 Good Friday peace accord.
Britain suspended the Northern Ireland government two years ago, amid charges of IRA spying on provincial officials.
Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP.
