Gerry Adams has placed responsibility for clinching an agreement to restore the power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland on to Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern.

An agreement is not now expected until next week at the earliest.

One of the main reasons for the delay is Ian Paisley's refusal to meet face-to-face with Sinn Fein.

A British government source said last night: "This really drags the whole affair out with the two prime ministers acting like messenger boys between the two parties."