Historic Handshake For Paisley, Irish Premier

DUBLIN, Ireland — Protestant leader Ian Paisley shook hands with Irish Prime Minister Ahern in public for the first time yesterday, marking another small step on the path to peace in Northern Ireland. Messrs. Ahern and Paisley smiled and slapped each other on the shoulder before their meeting in the Irish capital.

"I better shake hands with this man and give you a firm grip," Mr. Paisley boomed as he arrived.

Mr. Ahern's office confirmed that it was the first public handshake but said there had been previous handshakes in private.

The conflict over Northern Ireland has claimed more than 3,600 lives since the 1960s.