PM meets Adams amid devolution fear

Mr Adams is going to Downing Street amid mounting speculation Sinn Fein could derail the smooth transition of power from the Rev Ian Paisley when he steps down as First Minister on Thursday.

Peter Robinson, the East Belfast MP who took over as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party on Saturday after one of the longest apprenticeships in history, could have his elevation to the pinnacle of Northern Ireland politics blocked in a wrangle over whether London or Belfast should be in charge of policing and justice.

Sinn Fein has said nothing in public, but behind the scenes there is growing concern its actions will collapse the Assembly.

First and Deputy First Ministers are a matched pair and when Mr Robinson goes before the Assembly for the senior job Martin McGuinness should be re-nominated to work with him in the deputy post which he has held for a year.

If he is not nominated by the republicans Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward has few options - in theory he dissolves the Assembly and calls new elections within weeks.

In practice he could hold off through the summer marching season in the hope sense prevails.

The dispute boils down to the Sinn Fein demand that responsibility for policing and the justice system be transferred to the Stormont Executive - as it and the British and Irish Governments want, and should have happened by last month.

The DUP has dragged its heels saying it wants further guarantees over Sinn Fein's commitment to non-violence, including disbandment of the IRA's ruling army council.