Mr David Trimble and the Reverend Ian Paisley were at the centre of a face-to-face shouting match today as relations between the Ulster Unionists and the Democratic Unionists plunged to an all-time low.
The sides clashed outside Ulster Unionist headquarters in east Belfast as the DUP tried to launch the latest in a series of Assembly Election attack ads against Mr Trimble.
There was finger pointing and insults were thrown as Mr Trimble and a number of his colleagues disrupted the DUP launch of the billboard. Ulster Unionists accused the DUP of hiding their leader, Mr Paisley, from a television debate with Mr Trimble.
Their leader challenged the DUP: "When are you going to stop running away? "When are we going to have a debate, Ian?"
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DUP deputy leader Mr Peter Robinson dubbed Mr Trimble "yesterday's man" during a 10-minute slanging match.
Democratic Unionists taunted the UUP leader and his colleagues with "Where's Jeffrey?" in a reference to the rebel Lagan Valley MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, who is producing his own set of principles. Ulster Unionists continued to bait the DUP, accusing them of "running away".
They retreated later to their headquarters, Cunningham House, and erected posters asking why the DUP were ashamed of Mr Paisley. A furious Mr Paisley denied he was running away from debate. "I choose what radio programmes I go on," Mr Paisley said.
"I made my choice. I knew I was needed in the sticks. He (Mr Trimble) is a voice of a minority. He is not only a voice of a minority, he is a madman.
"You can see it in his voice, his anger. He has made a fool of himself outside his own headquarters."
PA