Intense negotiations to break the deadlock over policing in Northern Ireland are continuing at Stormont tonight.
As Sinn Féin leaders met to review negotiations with the British and Irish Governments to resolve the party's differences with the Democratic Unionists, republican sources said discussions were continuing.
"The talks that have been taking place with the British Government are at the highest level," a republican source said. "There is a feeling that this one could go down to the wire."
Sinn Fein is facing demands from the DUP to sign up to supporting the Police Service of Northern Ireland before any commitment to transfer policing and justice powers to a Stormont Executive can be given.
Gerry Adams has told the DUP and the two governments that if he is to secure a change in the party's policy towards the PSNI, a date for the transfer of powers will have to come first.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Prime Minister Tony Blair believe securing Sinn Féin support for the PSNI, the courts and the rule of law is an essential ingredient of their plan to revive power sharing at Stormont next March.
Mr Blair, Mr Ahern, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern and Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain have been involved in the latest efforts to persuade Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams to call a meeting of his party's national executive to recommend a special ard fheis on policing.
Sinn Féin's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness, policing spokesman Gerry Kelly and DUP Deputy Leader Peter Robinson have been involved in talks with the Northern Ireland Office in recent days.
It is understood that Mr Hain has also sounded out SDLP leader Mark Durkan about the possibility that his party could take the policing and justice portfolio in a power sharing government if the powers are devolved from Westminster to Stormont.
However Stormont sources said Mr Durkan had told the British government that his party was not prepared to walk blindly into an inadequate policing arrangement.