The deadline for agreement on key issues in the North has been extended.

Belfast based security correspondent Alan Murray says talks which were to start at 6am were late getting underway, with more discussions due after lunch:

The White House says talks in the north have reached a critical juncture, as the final deadline looms today for agreement to be reached.

The Chair of the talks, US diplomat Richard Haass has set today as the final deadline for a deal, with all sides meeting again this morning.

A White House statement is calling on the leaders of the five main parties to find an agreement that would heal divisions.

Sky's David Blevins says there seems to be one main barrier to agreement: