The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has said that provided there is a clear delivery of the commitments made under the St Andrews Agreement, there is no reason why power-sharing cannot be devolved back to Northern Ireland by the 26 March deadline.
Speaking at a news conference in Downing Street, Mr Blair said Sinn Féin's plan to hold a special Ard-Fheis was historic.
The DUP leader, Ian Paisley, said earlier that if a government could not be formed on 26 March because Sinn Féin failed to deliver, it would be clear Sinn Féin alone was to blame.
In a letter to NI party leaders, Northern Secretary Peter Hain has emphasised that the Transitional Assembly at Stormont is due to dissolve on 30 January in anticipation of an election on 7 March.
But if the election did not take place, the Assembly would be wound down for good, he said.
