A report for UTV Live from the ongoing talks at Stormont. Parties at this stage are awaiting the publication by Senator George Mitchell of a Position Paper setting out the state of negotiations on all three strands being considered at the talks. News from London is promising, with Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern apparently making some movement on Irish constitutional affairs.

Dermot Nesbit of the UUP believes there is still a chance of agreement with just six days to go before the deadline if there is realism from all concerned. David Ervine of the PUP gives the opinion that no one will really know the state of affairs until Mitchell's paper is published. Martin McGuinness, meanwhile, laments the fact that Unionists won't negotiate directly with Sinn Féin.

An Ulster Television Production.