BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) - A last-minute breakthrough
between lifelong enemies has cleared a path for Northern Ireland to
govern itself.

Protestant Ian Paisley sat beside Catholic Gerry Adams at a news
conference announcing the end of a standoff that's lasted nearly
five years. They did not shake hands.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair called the sight of Adams and
Paisley together "remarkable." He's been hosting them separately
ever since he rose to power in 1997.

Adams and Paisley say they and their deputies will now start
negotiating a joint platform for government.

Blair says everything that the peace process has strived for
"over the last ten years has been a preparation for this moment."

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-03-26-07 0900EDT