Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble was meeting the British Prime Minister today in a bid to get Sinn Féin thrown out of the talks seeking to restore devolution to Northern Ireland.
He walked out of the review of the workings of the Belfast Agreement yesterday because Ulster Secretary Mr Paul Murphy failed to give him what he wanted - Sinn Féin's marching orders.
Refusing to kick Sinn Féin out of the talks following the alleged IRA abduction and beating of dissident Mr Bobby Tohill last month was "quite appalling," he said.
Mr Trimble added: "We have to show to paramilitaries our Government will not tolerate such blatant breaches of the peace."
The Prime Minister had talks with Sinn Féin leaders Mr Gerry Adams and Mr Martin McGuinness in London yesterday and there has been little or no sign he will do anything to give Mr Trimble what he wants.
Despite withdrawing from the review talks, Mr Trimble said the UUP would continue to talk to other parties about the general political situation and the paramilitary threat.
Yesterday's talks had a single agenda - at unionist insistence - of continuing IRA activity. Sinn Féin was furious at the single agenda and hit out at Mr Trimble for walking out.
West Belfast Assembly member Ms Bairbre de Brun - leading the Sinn Féin delegation in the absence of Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness - accused him of engaging in "posturing without substance".
PA