The DUP could destroy the peace process unless unionists vote for nationalist candidates in Northern Ireland's elections, it was claimed today.
Former SDLP deputy leader Mr Seamus Mallon warned the Belfast Agreement's survival may depend on just half a dozen seats.
He urged unionists who support the five-year-old accord to put its future before traditional party allegiances.
The Newry and Armagh MP declared: "I ask unashamedly pro-Agreement unionists in those areas to transfer to SDLP candidates so we can create an executive and make political progress.
"Give the DUP a damn sore jaw and a very bloody nose."The anti-agreement DUP are bidding to take over as the largest unionist party in the Stormont Assembly after the November 26th poll.
Mr Mallon claimed another desperate struggle was raging across the divide.
The DUP has pledged to renegotiate the peace deal, but the veteran SDLP representative, who is standing down at this election, claimed its sole aim was to smash 30 years of political effort in Northern Ireland.
Final seat battles between Mr Ian Paisley's party and the SDLP in a handful of constituencies will be crucial to the whole outcome of the elections, he predicted.
"The DUP are threatening to smash what people of Ireland north and south supported and which took 30-odd years to build, that took a lifetime of suffering."
He appealed to both sides to consider crossing traditional barriers when they got into the polling booths.
"I again ask people in nationalist communities in these circumstances and in these constituencies to transfer to pro-agreement unionist parties.
"That's the message that's going to continue right through the rest of this campaign and I believe that could be the turning point.
"There will be people in the nationalist community who say `I couldn't vote unionist', and unionists who say `I couldn't vote for the SDLP no matter what'.
"I know how you feel. But which is greater, my feelings and yours or the future of this agreement?
"This is one that could turn the axis in relation to what this election has asked and is asking of people," he added.
PA