Sinn Féin's attempt to have the party's first Belfast mayor elected looks likely today as the Alliance party said they would support the bid.
Alliance's three Belfast councillors - Mr David Alderdice, Ms Naomi Long and Mr Tom Ekin - said today they would support Mr Alex Maskey’s bid at the final vote next Wednesday.
Alliance holds the balance of power in Belfast City Hall. Unionist parties account for 25 of the 51 councillors, while the nationalist SDLP and Sinn Fein have a combined total of 23.
Mr Alex Maskey's bid to become Lord Mayor was thwarted last year when Alliance's three councillors refused to back him. They said republicans needed to respond to the public's demand for IRA disarmament. The IRA has since decommissioned weapons twice.
However, republicans have been accused in recent months of engaging in paramilitary activity following the arrests of three Irishmen on suspicion of training Marxist rebels in Colombia and allegations of their involvement in the Castlereagh police station break-in.
"Those matters were addressed in discussions with the other parties and Sinn Féin tried to deal with each and every one of them," Mr Maskey said today. "In respect of these issues, we have shown our clear commitment to the peace process and will continue in that role."
PA
