Mr David Trimble's post-dated letter of resignation will take effect on Friday if the Executive is not suspended, The Irish Times has learned.
Amid evidence that Mr Peter Mandelson had encountered fierce Irish opposition to suspension, authoritative sources confirmed that the resignation of Mr Trimble and his fellow Ministers would be operative from Friday, February 4th.
The date for the resignations was vouchsafed to the president of the Ulster Unionist Council, Sir Josias Cunningham, before November's meeting of the UUC, at which Mr Trimble secured his party's conditional support for entering government with Sinn Fein on the assumption of a start to IRA decommissioning by January 31st.
Mr Trimble last night repeated that he expects a statement by Mr Mandelson confirming suspension before the end of the week.
London and Dublin will finally be forced to bow to this, given that should he resign Mr Trimble would not have the unionist support to ensure his re-election.
It is understood Mr Mandelson was made aware of the effective date for the unionist resignations before travelling to Dublin for his meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen.
Mr Trimble confirmed his intention after the report by Gen. de Chastelain to the two governments confirmed that there had been no start to decommissioning and he was unable to say when it might occur.