Sinn Fein calls on Trimble to withdraw threat

Sinn Féin has repeated its call to UUP leader Mr David Trimble to withdraw his threat to resign over IRA arms decommissioning…

Sinn Féin has repeated its call to UUP leader Mr David Trimble to withdraw his threat to resign over IRA arms decommissioning.

Speaking at a meeting of the party’s Ard Chomhairle in Dublin this afternoon, party chairman MrMitchel McLaughlin said the threat was counter-productive to the frail peace process.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin

He said Mr Trimble was trying to force the suspension of the Belfast Agreement and lay the blame on the republican movement.

"It is this strategy which has brought us to this current point of crisis," Mr McLaughlin claimed.

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He accusedMr Trimbleof failingto honour obligations set out under the Agreement,particularly in relation to decommissioning.

"What exactly has Mr Trimble done to bring about a resolution to the arms issue, as required by the Good Friday Agreement?

"He has refused to work the institutions and has created a fracture in the political institutions.

"Mr Trimble should withdraw his resignation.If he is genuinely committed to making political progress he should be about creating progress and not crisis."