Trimble fails in bid to be re-elected First Minister

The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble has failed in his attempt to be re-elected Northern Ireland First Minister in a vote at the Stormont Assembly.

All 38 nationalist Assembly members voted for Mr Trimble, as did all five non-aligned members.

However, only 29 unionists out of 59 voted for Mr Trimble.

I think if we keep our nerve ... the forces for the Good Friday Agreement can overcome all of those who would wish to drag us back to bad old days Mr Martin McGuinness

To be re-elected, Mr Trimble needed a majority vote in both the nationalist and unionist groupings.

However, East Derry UUP MLA Mrs Pauline Armitage and the North Down representative, Mr Peter Weir, joined the ranks of the anti-Belfast Agreement unionists and opposed Mr Trimble.

Mr Weir said today he had put the interests of the country ahead of his party's by voting against Mr Trimble.

"I have no intention to leave for another party or going anywhere," he said when asked about his and Mrs Armitage's political future within the UUP. "My bonds are to the party are strong, as I am sure Pauline's are, but I have got to put my bonds to the country before self interest."

Mrs Armitage had signalled her voting intention yesterday, blaming her continuing doubts about the republican movement's commitment to the peace process for her decision.

"I don't have a problem with Mr Trimble personally, but I can't support his policy," she said.

The Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr John Reid, is now faced with the option of calling fresh elections, suspending the political institutions again or amending the legislation to ensure that Mr Trimble can be restored as First Minister.

Both the DUP and Sinn Féin this afternoon called for new Assembly elections.

Mr Martin McGuinness said that suspension was not an option for Sinn Féin.

Mr McGuinness said it was now incumbent upon the British Government to hold fresh Assembly elections

"People should not be despondent because here in this Assembly a vast majority of the Assembly members made up of the Ulster Unionist Party, the SDLP, Sinn Féin, the Women's Coalition, the PUP and the Alliance Party are rock solid behind change and forward movement."

"The forces against us are a minority ...and I think if we keep our nerve, if we continue to work at this, if we stay solid, if we stay together, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the forces for change, the forces for good, the forces for the Good Friday Agreement can overcome all of those who would wish to drag us back to bad old days."

"At long last we have given them the bloody nose they deserve for those who took part in the charade of decommissioning," said Rev Paisley.

"The die is now cast for the people of Northern Ireland, what we need is an election, a return to the ballot box."