1st November 2001

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Institutions or elections

Sinn Fein Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness MP speaking prior to tomorrow's election in the Assembly for the First and Deputy First Minister said:

``The election for the posts of First and Deputy First Minister are clearly important for all of us. It is of course up to unionist Assembly members what they do tomorrow. In common with most people in the North and indeed on the island it is my fervent hope that they will elect a First and Deputy First Minister.

``If however they fail to do this then it is incumbent upon the British government to give the electorate their say. It would be ludicrous to give the votes of one or two individual's precedence over the democratic wishes of the electorate, which voted for the Good Friday Agreement and put the political institutions into being. The British government must respond to such an eventuality by holding fresh Assembly elections.''

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