Ulster Unionists meet to discuss NI election

The Ulster Unionist executive met in Belfast this morning amid indications that the party's attitude towards what it requires…

The Ulster Unionist executive met in Belfast this morning amid indications that the party's attitude towards what it requires from the decommissioning process might harden still further.

Yesterday Mr Trimble, insisted that he will not share power with Sinn Féin in a restored Executive unless the IRA offers more information about last week's weapons decommissioning.

The party was today deciding how it will contest the upcoming elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly amid the latest setback in the peace process.

There were also reports that the Ulster Unionists would seek not only details of the decommissioning act that took place last Tuesday, but also a timescale for the completion of the decommissioning process.

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Mr Trimble has downplayed hopes that a resolution to the latest crisis could be found before the Assembly elections, which he is now almost certain to fight in the absence of any political deal over what happens afterwards.

Asked if a solution could be found before a further meeting of the UUP's Executive Council on Wednesday, he said: "There doesn't appear to be. Whether that will still happen I don't know. It rests with other people.