Today's sitting of the Stormont Assembly descended into chaos and confusion after nominations for First and Deputy-First Minister failed to take place as planned. There was further drama as the Assembly was evacuated when convicted loyalist murderer Michael Stone burst into the Stormont foyer claiming to be carrying a bomb.
The DUP and Sinn Féin were expected to name their choices for First and Deputy First Minister at Stormont but proceedings were thrown into disarray as the nominations failed to take place as planned.
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams confirmed that his party would nominate Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister but Mr Paisley told the Assembly that until Sinn Fein declared support for policing and justice arrangements then the DUP was not obliged to nominate a First Minister.
The DUP leader withheld his name but told the Assembly that if republicans gave full support to policing and justice arrangements, he would then decide on whether to enter a power-sharing administration with Sinn Féin.
MLAs furiously challenged Speaker Eileen Beel to explain the status of the sitting following confusion over Dr Paisley's statement.
Matters deteriorated when the Assembly was evacuated when loyalist murderer Michael Stone burst into the Stormont foyer claiming to be carrying a bomb.
Before the suspension of the Assembly, Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey told MLAs: "We need to clarify whether we have been witnessing a marriage or an engagement today."
Mrs Bell told the Assembly that it was now a matter for Northern Secretary Peter Hain to decide.
The DUP leader released a statement later in the afternoon to make his position clear after a group of DUP Assembly Members issued a statement insisting the party had not participated in a process of designating a Shadow First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
"I have always said, as I said today in the Assembly, what my intention will be if policing and all of the other outstanding issues that are before us are settled. "Everyone already knows that in those circumstances after they are delivered I would accept the First Minister's nomination provided the election results are favourable."
Both Irish and British governments indicated that the DUP and Sinn Féin had done enough to proceed with the St Andrews power sharing plan.
Speaking this afternoon, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the DUP leader had "made his position clear."
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern had said the Irish and British governments would have liked more clarity from the DUP but there was enough encouragement to proceed with the St Andrews Agreement.
He said: "We would have liked more clarity from Mr Paisley but we got a little more clarification in a statement in the afternoon. "We always expected today to be a conditional day for the DUP and also for Sinn Féin."
"But there is enough in what happened today, even though it wasn't as we would have liked it to be. "There is enough in it to proceed."
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said "Provided the St Andrews agreement is implemented in full, including on the police and the rule of law, as well as power-sharing and, provided that in the forthcoming election, the Democratic Unionists and the Sinn Fein are the two biggest parties, then next March there will be a power-sharing executive with Dr Ian Paisley as First Minister and Martin McGuiness as Deputy First Minister."
"It's never been easy, but who would've thought it would have been possible 10 years ago."
The debate was interrupted when infamous loyalist murderer Michael Stone was apprehended after storming into the lobby of Stormont.
He threw a bag into the security check-in claiming it contained a bomb. There was smoke coming out of the bag and the sound of sparks.
Police Chief Constable Hugh Orde later said the British army defused between six and eight devices at Stormont. They said: "They are fairly amateurish in design - that does not make them any less dangerous."
Stone was quickly detained and taken away but Stormont, including MLAs in the chamber, were evacuated. One security officer was taken to hospital with head wounds as officers - in full view of the media - pinned Mr Stone down and handcuffed him.
Stone, who had also daubed "Sinn Fein IRA scum" on a pillar outside the building, is notorious for a grenade and gun attack on mourners at the funeral of an IRA member in 1988.
An IRA member and two civilians were killed during the attack at Milltown Cemetery in Belfast.
Mr Hain must now decide on either continuing with the St Andrews plan or following through on his threat to dissolve the Assembly and institute a 'plan B' without reference to the North's parties.
Earlier, a statement issued by 12 DUP MLA's indicated a possible divergance of views within the DUP.
"Given the total lack of movement on behalf of Sinn Fein on the issue of support for the rule of law, the courts and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, nothing that we have said or done today can be taken by the Government as an indication that they can imply shadow, designate or any other status to anyone in relation to the Office of First and Deputy First Minister," the statement read.
The statement was signed by MPs Nigel Dodds, the Reverend William McCrea, Gregory Campbell and David Simpson. It was also signed by Lord Morrow and his fellow MLAs Diane Dodds, Paul Girvan, Stephen Moutray, Nelson McCausland, Mervyn Storey, Tom Buchanan and Assembly deputy speaker Jim Wells.
The statement also appeared to challenge British Prime Minister Tony Blair's claim that the parties could proceed with the St Andrews plan for power sharing on the basis that Mr Paisley would be Northern Ireland's First Minister and Mr McGuinness would be the Deputy First Minister.
Mr Blair had earlier called on MLAs to "put aside the legalistic debate" and "concentrate on the substance".
"Despite all the difficulties - and we've seen them all again today very graphically - I've found at St Andrews, and I've found since, an underlying determination amongst the parties not to let this opportunity pass," Mr Blair said.
Additional reporting: Agencies