The Senate and Assembly held separate news conferences afterward, though Ms. Oliver denied there was a split between the houses.

WSJ: For Tax Cut

The DUP says it is not against a referendum in principle, but it sees Mr Trimble's move as a cynical tactic and says any border poll should be held on a separate date from the assembly elections.

BBC: Unionist pressure results in border call

Earlier, assembly members made separate statements about Israel's raid on a flotilla of Gaza-bound aid ships, and last week's murder of Bobby Moffatt on the Shankill Road in Belfast.

BBC: Statement on planning policy

For years GM operated as a loose federation, in which Opel in Europe and Holden in Australia each had their own product development and assembly operations, separate from North America.

FORBES: Global Motors

The Government of Wales Bill contains three main elements, the first - a proposal to separate the executive and legislative functions of the Assembly has proved largely uncontroversial.

BBC: NEWS | Programmes | Politics Show | Wales: Assembly powers

Now, in addition to the 80 first-past-the-post assembly seats, 40 members will be elected on a separate party-list system.

ECONOMIST: Lesotho's election

Serbia's assembly voted 166 to 47 to approve the proposal for the new union, also backing separate legislation to implement the deal.

BBC: Serbia votes to end Yugoslavia