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Europe

Belfast power-sharing govt faces end; Sinn Fein spurns talks

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    FILE- In this Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 file photo, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness speaks to the media at the count centre in Dublin, Ireland. Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, the former Irish Republican Army commander who has helped to lead the unity government for nearly a decade, said in his resignation letter on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, that he intends to trigger early elections in protest against his power-sharing partner, First Minister Arlene Foster. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison, File) (The Associated Press)

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    FILE- In this Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015 file photo, Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams, left, and Martin McGuinness speak to the media at Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland's power-sharing government was plunged into crisis Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, as the senior Catholic leader announced he was quitting in a showdown with his Protestant colleague that could unravel a central achievement of peacemaking. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison, File) (The Associated Press)

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    FILE- In this Wednesday, March 5, 2008 file photo, Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley, right, and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, attend the opening of the New Victoria Shopping complex in Belfast, Northern Ireland. McGuinness, the former Irish Republican Army commander who has helped to lead the unity government for nearly a decade, said in his resignation letter, Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, that he intends to trigger early elections in protest against his power-sharing partner, First Minister Arlene Foster. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison, File) (The Associated Press)

DUBLIN – The Irish nationalist Sinn Fein party says it's determined to force Northern Ireland to hold a new election, part of a showdown with Protestant leaders over the British territory's unraveling unity government.

Sinn Fein leaders emerged Wednesday from a Belfast meeting with Britain's Cabinet minister for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire, saying they had no interest in pursuing negotiations until after a new election.

Northern Ireland's nearly decade-old government will formally collapse Monday if Sinn Fein, the Irish Catholic side of the coalition, refuses to nominate a successor to Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. The former IRA commander resigned this week following months of disputes with his Protestant partner atop the government, First Minister Arlene Foster.

Brokenshire is meeting with Foster and others Wednesday in hopes of brokering an election-averting compromise.

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