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FACTBOX-Facts about Northern Ireland's Assembly

08 May 2007 15:16:03 GMT
Source: Reuters

May 8 (Reuters) - Northern Ireland's Protestant and Roman Catholic leaders, arch-foes during decades of sectarian conflict, launched a power-sharing government on Tuesday aiming to put a final end to violence.

Following are some facts about the power-sharing assembly:

* The 108-seat assembly was set up under the 1998 Good Friday peace deal that sought to end three decades of violence between majority Protestant "unionists", who favour continued British rule, and Catholic "nationalists" who oppose it.

* A 12-member home rule cabinet, known as the Executive, is to be drawn from the assembly. A first minister and a deputy must be elected by a majority of both the unionist and nationalist blocs in the assembly.

* The assembly has a range of home rule powers over issues such as agriculture, education and health.

* The first election for the assembly took place in June 1998, but throughout its short life it has been dogged by instability. Arguments over Irish Republican Army disarmament meant power was not transferred from London to Belfast until December 1999. Since then, Britain has suspended the assembly and reverted to direct rule from London four times.

* The assembly met briefly in November 2006 as part of plans to restore the power-sharing government in 2007.

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Last updated:Tue May 8 15:18:56 2007