bad old days in N. Ireland?

5 June 2008--

Intense behind-the-scenes discussions were being held Wednesday in Northern Ireland to avert a new political crisis as Protestant First Minister Ian Paisley prepared to retire from his office. Sinn Fein, the Catholic partner in the power-sharing government, has refused to say whether it will block the election of Paisley's would-be successor, Peter Robinson of the Democratic Unionist Party. It could do so legally by declining to renominate his deputy, Martin McGuinness, leaving both posts unfilled. On his final day in office, Paisley said such a move would be "evil" and would risk bringing the province "back to the bad old days."