Robinson Claims McGuinness In Breach Of Duties

In what marks a further increase in tension between the political leaders, it is understood the DUP chief has privately challenged Mr McGuinness.

The move comes after republicans blocked a meeting of the Northern Executive on Thursday, while unionists refuse to use emergency powers to allow a meeting of ministers from the north and south of Ireland to go ahead.

Sinn Fein is blocking Executive meetings until outstanding issues between the two parties, including the devolution of policing and justice powers to Stormont, are dealt with.

The First Minister has told Mr McGuinness that by failing to agree an agenda for Thursday's scheduled Executive meeting, he believed Mr McGuinness had effectively breached his ministerial code of office.

Sources said Mr Robinson highlighted in particular the alleged refusal to allow papers relating to the NSMC (North South Ministerial Council) to be cleared and brought to the full Executive.

The DUP leader is understood to have blamed Mr McGuinness' actions for preventing Friday's north-south meeting.

Republicans had earlier said that despite the stand-off with the DUP they had agreed last week to using emergency procedures to attend a meeting of ministers in Britain and wanted unionists to return the gesture.

This was rejected by the DUP who said the decision to attend the NSMC should have been made at the Executive meeting scheduled for Thursday.