Morning Ireland

Listen to the whole programme

Military leader takes over as Pakistan's new chief executive After days of deliberation, Pakistan's military leader, Perez Musharraf, who seized power in a coup on Tuesday, has declared himself to be the country's new chief executive. The general has suspended the democratic institutions, put constitutional law on hold, and sacked all politicians bar the president, who will remain in office but not in power. What does this mean for Pakistan and the region?

Dr Robert Bradnock of the school of African and Oriental Studies in London assesses the latest developments in Pakistan

Countdown to nurses' strike begins As the countdown to next week's nursing strike continues, health boards around the country have been telling relatives of patients in critical care areas what cover they will get during the dispute. The strike is due to go ahead next Tuesday, and there is growing concern about cover to be provided at the country's hospitals. There is particular concern for psychiatric patients in the lead up to the strike. The nurses' unions have promised emergency cover, but emergency cover for the mentally ill is much harder to define. An added dimension to the dispute is the fact that nurses in some private hospitals are backing the action.

Ciarán Mullooly, Midlands Correspondent reports on the situation at St Fintin's Hospital, a key centre for psychiatric services in Portlaoise, County Laois

Interview with Finbarr Fitzpatrick, General Secretary of the Hospital Consultants Association

Dr Anthony Clare, director of St Patrick's private hospital in Dublin explains how the strike will effect psychiatric patients

No breakthrough reported at intensive London talks George Mitchell's review of the Northern peace process moved into intensive mode in London this week, but it has been a far cry from the media circus that surrounded any of the Stormont gatherings. There were no crowds of reporters gathered outside these meeting places ready to pounce on each latest rumour, the aim instead to get small teams from the parties to engage directly in this final attempt to break the impasse. There was no breakthrough reported this week, just better atmospherics, and the talks are expected to continue in London next week.

Interview with SDLP's Mark Durcan, who was in London for the talks

EU summit on international crime and asylum seekers The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, is in Finland for a two-day summit at which the fight against international crime and the harmonising of asylum policy will be high on the agenda. The conference will consider the introduction of compulsory fingerprinting for all asylum seekers entering the Union. Ireland's representative, Justice Minister John O'Donaghue will express this country's support for the proposal, but according to the National Federation of Campaigns Against Racism, this is just another example of what they call the State xenophobia that marks the Irish government's approach to immigration.

Tommie Gorman, Europe Editor, interviews Bertie Ahern in Finland

Pat Guerin, of the National Federation of Campaigns Against Racism, and Justice Minister John O'Donaghue discuss the proposal

Shops and pubs in cannot fill job vacancies in Mayo From the west - the story of a town where £200-a-week jobs are going a begging, because it seem almost nobody wants to work in shops, pubs and restaurants anymore. Ten years ago young people were streaming out of County Mayo in search of work in Britain or the US. Now in an extraordinary reversal of events, businesses in the county town of Castlebar simply cannot find young people to fill a string of job vacancies.

Jim Fahy, Western Correspondent, reports from Castlebar

Clinton calls on rest of world to keep Test Ban Treaty alive An angry President Clinton attacked Republicans in the US Senate last night. The Grand Old Party forced a vote on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty on Wednesday night and soundly defeated it - the first time in more than 70 years that the Senate has failed to ratify an international treaty. The White House is concerned about the international fallout from the vote and last night President Clinton called a press conference at which he called on the rest of the world to keep the treaty alive.

Mark Little, Washington Correspondent, reports

Part flotation of Aer Rianta planned According to the front page of the Irish Times this morning, Mary O'Rourke plans the part flotation of Aer Rianta. Details of what the Public Enterprise Minister has in store are included in the report.

Arthur Beesley of the Irish Times discusses the planned flotation