Peter Robinson will not attend 'circus act' opening of NI talks

First Minister Peter Robinson has said he will not attend the opening of next week's talks aimed at breaking the deadlock at Stormont.

The inter-party talks, convened by the Secretary of State Theresa Villiers, are due to begin next Thursday.

Mr Robinson, who leads the Democratic Unionist Party, called the planned opening of the talks "a showpiece" and "a circus act for the media".

BBC News NI Political Correspondent Gareth Gordon reports.