NORTHERN Irish Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness pulled out of a visit to Washington yesterday to focus on resolving Stormont’s welfare reform deadlock.

Mr McGuinness and First Minister Peter Robinson had been invited to the White House for the annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations tomorrow.

“I have decided in the best interests of trying to move the situation forward I will not be travelling to the US to take part in events marking St Patrick’s Day,” said the Sinn Fein deputy leader.

Stormont’s five main parties have been engaged in emergency talks since last Thursday and are expected to resume negotiations today.

The are quarrelling over whether Stormont schemes to support those losing out under Westminster’s welfare changes would cover future claimants or just existing ones.

Sinn Fein pulled its support when unionists confirmed proposing to limit the scheme to current claimants.