THE Democratic Unionist Party is to withdraw its candidates from the constituencies of West Tyrone and North Belfast to give the Ulster Unionist Party a free run against the nationalist candidates.

This follows weeks of negotiations between the DUP and UUP and public disputes on which party should withdraw from particular constituencies to stop nationalist candidates winning seats.

In response, the UUP will give the sitting MP in Mid Ulster, the DUP's Rev William McCrea, a free run. It will also withdraw its candidate from the Foyle constituency.

But the DUP, which has also decided not to field candidates in the constituencies of Newry and Armagh and South Down, is angry at the UUP for not standing down in the East Belfast constituency.

The DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, who is the sitting MP in East Belfast, said yesterday: "Everyone knows Westminster election contests in East Belfast are fought out between Peter Robinson and the Alliance Party."

He described Mr Reg Empey, the UUP candidate in East Belfast, as a "vote splitter" and called on him to withdraw.

While welcoming the DUP decision to withdraw from four constituencies, the UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, said the situation in East Belfast was different. "There, unionists should be free to compete against each other for such a safe sent," he said.

"Again, in the spirit of unionist unity, we would hope these seats would be fought without the need for inter unionist arguments," the UUP said.

"We regard DUP - claims that East Belfast is not a safe seat as laughable - East Belfast has the largest pro Union vote in Northern Ireland. We look forward to a vigorous but fair contest for the seat."

In announcing the withdrawals, the DUP leader, Dr Ian Paisley, said it was "abundantly clear" the UUP had "no intention of reaching an honourable or reasonable arrangement based on the principle of reciprocity and mutual agreement".

"They have rejected numerous proposals which would have resulted in a reasonable and sensible solution to the difficulties being faced," he said.

The SDLP's North Belfast candidate,

Mr Alban Maginness, said he regretted the DUP decision to withdraw from the race. "I am sorry an election has again been reduced to a simple sectarian census," he said.

The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, said: "I am quite confident nationalists and republicans in West Tyrone and North Belfast will respond enthusiastically to the challenge put down by Ian Paisley."

The Alliance Party's candidate for North Belfast, Mr Tom Campbell, said: "Nationalists have no prospect of winning this sent following the withdrawal of the DUP."