Mr Steinberg joined Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish officials at Hillsborough Castle on Wednesday and Thursday during intensive talks to try to resolve differences over IRA decommissioning, police reform, demilitarisation and Ulster Unionist sanctions against Sinn Fein.

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The talks are meant to develop momentum before more talks, this time chaired by Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern at Leeds Castle in Kent, later in the month.

ECONOMIST: Northern Ireland