Mr Sean Neeson is poised to lead the Alliance Party. He was elected to the position temporarily after the sudden departure of Lord Alderdice last July. When nominations for the leadership closed on Saturday, Mr Neeson's was the sole name put forward.
All of the party's Assembly members are reportedly behind Mr Neeson, who is expected to be formally elected at a party meeting on September 5th.
It is anticipated Mr Seamus Close, currently the interim deputy leader, will retain this position.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Neeson said he planned "a different form of leadership". He emphasised the importance of party policies in the new Assembly and promised to involve the party grassroots in policy formulation.
He said: "We've got to realise that things are changing in Northern Ireland. Never has there been such a need for non-sectarian politics. I believe that we are going to have a very vital role in the months and years ahead."
Meanwhile, the 32-County Sovereignty Movement yesterday issued a statement claiming that the movement was separate and distinct from the `Real IRA'. "For years, a similar distinction which existed between the Irish Republican Army and Sinn Fein was ignored," the organisation said.
Unionist politicians in the North continue to demand tough measures against dissident republicans in light of the Omagh atrocity.
Mr John Taylor, deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, has challenged Mr Tony Blair's decision not to deploy the SAS to assassinate or apprehend the bombers.
"The best way to catch them is red-handed and an undercover organisation such as the SAS is in the best possible position to achieve that objective," he said.
The Ulster Unionist MP, Mr Jeffery Donaldson, has urged a halt in the prisoner-release programme. He said yesterday further releases at this stage would be a "serious mistake".
His comments come after reports that Provisional dissidents, who recently joined the `Real IRA', and those who may have been involved in the Omagh bombing, are released prisoners.
"We have no guarantee that prisoners being released at this time wouldn't at some stage defect to the `Real IRA' and become actively engaged in terrorist violence again," said Mr Donaldson.
A group of MEPs from throughout Europe yesterday started a four-day fact-finding visit to the North.
It represents the first major visit by a European Parliament delegation since the establishment of the new Assembly. The Ulster Unionist MEP, Mr Jim Nicholson, is host to the group.