Northern Ireland's major Protestant and Catholic parties joined together Tuesday to form a power-sharing government, marking a "new era of politics" and an end to three decades of sectarian conflict in the British province.

Protestant Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley, 80, was sworn in as the Northern Ireland assembly's first minister and key player Martin McGuinness, 56, of Sinn Fein will take on the role of deputy first minister.

The two men bridged the sectarian divide and took oaths of office in front of a quiet assembly room with members forgoing applause out of respect for a recently deceased assembly member and colleague from Paisley's DUP, George Dawson.