Negotiations to save Northern Ireland's powersharing government are continuing after a rebellion within Democratic Unionist ranks raised fears of a worsening crisis.
Talks involving the British and Irish governments, Sinn Fein, plus the DUP resumed at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, after hopes for an agreement on policing, justice and parades were apparently derailed by tensions within the unionist party.
The DUP rejected reports of a revolt and restated their support for their leader Peter Robinson, but it is understood up to 40% of the party's Assembly team refused to back the plans for a deal.
Mr Robinson, fresh from the scandal that his wife Iris had secured £50,000 from two property developers to set up her teenage lover in business, now faces a battle to secure an agreement his party can support.
DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said: "Despite the speculation and innuendo being peddled by unidentified sources and some sections of the media, the DUP Assembly Group has endorsed the work of our negotiating team and has given its unanimous support to the DUP leadership to continue working on the outstanding issues."
A deal is expected to cover the devolution of policing and justice powers from Westminster to the Assembly by May, a key republican demand, plus new arrangements on overseeing loyal order parades, which is sought by unionists.
Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist leaders briefed their Assembly groups at Stormont on Mondauy morning, but after the internal republican talks were swiftly concluded and the DUP discussions ran on for most of the day, details emerged of problems within the unionist camp.
It is now understood more than a third of DUP members rejected the proposals outlined to them by Mr Robinson, with dissatisfaction over arrangements for overseeing controversial Orange Order parades high on the list of concerns.
After negotiations resumed on Tuesday at Hillsborough, further party briefings took place at Stormont, but there was speculation that the process could continue until at least Thursday before a conclusion is reached.
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Sinn Fein Assembly member Alex Maskey said there were some outstanding issues to be decided, but added: "Our focus is making sure we can get a deal. We would not be talking at Hillsborough or anywhere else if we didn't believe that there was a prospect of getting a positive outcome. We believe there is a prospect of getting a deal, we are there to get that."
