Richard Haass talks edge closer to deadline
A deadline for agreement on dealing with the past, parades and flags has been set for Monday evening.
Talks between Northern Ireland's five main parties and former US diplomat Dr Richard Haass in a bid to resolve three contentious issues are into the final day.
A deadline for agreement on dealing with the past, parades and flags has been set for Monday evening.
A sixth draft of the proposals was delivered to the parties overnight.
A seventh draft is expected to be delivered at 21:30 GMT.
Dr Haass is then expected to provide an update on how talks are progressing at around 23:00 GMT.
A round table session on Monday morning was delayed to give the parties more time to review the latest document.
BBC NI political reporter Stephen Walker, who has seen the sixth draft, said the proposal still includes plans for a trauma centre for Troubles victims and a code of conduct for parading, which is proving problematic.
Another issue causing concern for some parties is how people can be compelled to give evidence into historical enquiries.
In the 38-page draft Dr Haass writes that "this is a remarkable opportunity to make bold choices to address the issues that hold us back".
The latest draft also says that an Implementation Reconciliation Group is to be established within six months of a deal being reached.
'Fairly confident'Arriving at the talks Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said he was "fairly confident" a deal could be reached.
"We are hopeful we can do a deal today," he said.
"These issues will not go away so now is the time to deal with them."
On Sunday, Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said the talks were "80 to 90% over the line".
Delegations from the parties - except the DUP - met Dr Haass separately on Sunday.
The DUP did not take part as it does not negotiate on Sundays.
The parties have held a series of round-table talks in recent months Talks between all five parties and Dr Haass had ended on Saturday without agreement.
'Humiliation risk'Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said that Dr Haass and his co-chair, Prof Meghan O'Sullivan, must not be allowed to return to the United States without securing a deal.
"It would be a humiliation if Richard Haass and Meghan O'Sullivan left here against the backdrop of no agreement," he said.
The Alliance Party and the SDLP also urged the other parties to make a deal in time for Monday's deadline.
The DUP met with Dr Haass on Saturday night. The party's Jeffrey Donaldson said he hoped a deal could be reached.
The leader of the UUP, Mike Nesbitt, said he was happy with most of the document.
"I would say 80, maybe even 90% of it, is ready to go over the line," he said.
"So there's not a lot left, but what is left is serious from our point of view."
A spokeswoman for the US National Security Council said the talks were at a critical juncture and the goal remained to achieve agreement before the end of the year.
"We call upon the leadership of the five parties to make the compromises necessary to conclude an agreement now, one that would help heal the divisions that continue to stand between the people of Northern Ireland and the future they deserve," she said.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, said she wished the parties well in the final hours of their talks.
"I hope all sides will be able to show flexibility to make an agreement possible on these divisive issues," she said.
"From my many conversations on this over recent days, I am encouraged about the prospects for agreement, although some key issues are yet to be resolved, particularly on the past."
Dr Haass and Prof O'Sullivan were brought to Northern Ireland in July by the first and deputy first ministers.
They returned to the US for Christmas after talks broke up without agreement in the early hours of Christmas Eve.
The parties were given a fifth draft of proposals from Dr Haass and Prof O'Sullivan on Friday night.
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