The formation of a new power-sharing executive in the North hung in the balance last night. Plans to seek nominations for the 10 ministerial posts are due to go ahead at Stormont today, but the intentions and strategy of the Ulster Unionists remain in doubt. The UUP is entitled to three ministerial posts, but if the party fails to bring forward any nominations, sources said the review procedures of the Belfast Agreement would be invoked, whereby the parties would regroup in September to discuss ways of resolving the continuing difficulties over decommissioning.
Privately, UUP dissidents and other long-time observers remained suspicious that the party leadership would carry out a last-minute manoeuvre to ensure progress was made in implementing The Way Forward document from the British and Irish governments. Today's events would tell, they said.
A meeting of the Ulster Unionist executive at party headquarters in Glengall Street in the evening came to an abrupt and unexpected end after only 15 minutes. Mr Trimble read a policy motion carried by the executive last Friday and said that on the basis of what he had heard since, he was not recommending any change.
The party leader then suggested he would relay this message to the waiting media outside, adding that he trusted this would lead to a 100 per cent united party. There was applause and members sang God Save the Queen before the meeting ended.
The speed and manner with which the executive meeting was conducted meant there was no opportunity for members to question the party leader on his likely approach to the nomination of ministers. This fuelled suspicions that a deeper strategy was in operation.
Outside, Mr Trimble told reporters that party policy remained unchanged. He said the meeting had been the resumption of the gathering which was adjourned last Friday at which the executive adopted a resolution giving its views on the way forward.
He said: "What I have to tell you tonight is that the executive's view remains unchanged. I have not sought, nor will I seek, a change in the party policy."
Meanwhile, there was burgeoning discontent in republican circles over the trend of events. The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, objected to proposed amendments to the Northern Ireland Bill.
Accusing the British government of undermining the Belfast Agreement, he said Sinn Fein would oppose them with all its vigour and resources.
Sinn Fein's chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, said he was concerned the amendments could raise serious questions about the role of Gen John de Chastelain, who has been appointed to oversee decommissioning of paramilitary weapons.
An angry Mr McGuinness said: "I think there is a real danger that the position of the independent decommissioning body will be seriously prejudiced by this legislation. That is not the way forward.".
He said people could be forgiven for thinking that "this peace process has effectively been turned into a decommissioning process".
Mr Peter Robinson, of the Democratic Unionist Party, said in the event of the nomination procedure being completed, his party would take the two departments to which it was entitled but would not sit on an executive with Sinn Fein.