Tensions were rising in the Ulster Unionist camp last night as the party leader, Mr David Trimble, immediately disowned a statement issued by five members of his parliamentary party rejecting the package agreed in the Stormont talks. The statement also dismissed yesterday's IRA statement as "totally inadequate".
Following the weekly meeting of the UUP parliamentary party at Westminster, a statement was issued declaring that the IRA had offered "no certainty or clarity" on decommissioning. "This deal effectively removes the lines between democracy and terrorism and we urge the wider party to stand by our manifesto pledges."
The statement was faxed out at 7.35 p.m. but only nine minutes later there was a response from Mr Trimble dissociating himself from the statement which, he added, had received the endorsement of only five out of the 10 UUP MPs at Westminser.
It is understood there was an attendance of only six at the meeting, with Mr Trimble in a minority of one. The MPs who rejected the package and the IRA statement were: Mr William Ross, Mr William Thompson, the Rev Martin Smyth, Mr Clifford Forsythe and Mr Roy Beggs Snr.
The deputy leader, Mr John Taylor, was with a parliamentary delegation to Iran and Mr Jeffrey Donaldson had to return to Northern Ireland for an urgent meeting.
However, Mr Donaldson later declared his "full support" for the statement issued by his five colleagues. Mr Cecil Walker and Mr Ken Maginnis were also absent from the meeting.
The UUP team in the Northern Ireland Assembly - considered more liberal than the hardline parliamentary party - is due to meet at Stormont's Parliament Buildings today.
There were unconfirmed reports that the level of opposition to the deal might have eased.
Today's meeting will be a prelude to a further meeting of party officers at Belfast's Glengall Street tomorrow morning where the issue of convening the Ulster Unionist Council may be discussed.
There were signs of tension, also, between Sinn Fein, on the one side, and the Northern Ireland Office and London on the other. In comments addressed directly to the British government, Mr Gerry Adams called for "sure-footed and calm management of the situation". He said London should resist "the temptation to go for short-term advantage".
The Sinn Fein leader's remarks came amid speculation in both nationalist and unionist circles that Mr Trimble might be offered a concession on the Patten report on policing to help him overcome internal party difficulties.
However, political insiders were sceptical that the Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, would do more than offer expressions of comfort and understanding to unionists on these issues.
Mr Mandelson said the Provisional IRA statement was "stronger in certain respects than some expected". He added: "It is a very significant step forward, particularly the decision to appoint a representative to meet with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning."
The Ulster Unionist leadership was measured in its reaction to the IRA statement, issued before lunchtime yesterday, which made clear that an interlocutor would be appointed to meet the decommissioning body, but only after the new institutions had been established.
A prior appointment was never on the cards, republican sources said. Talks insiders said the interlocutor would be appointed "the same day" as the devolution of powers to the executive, the North-South ministerial council and the British-Irish council, all of which are to be established at the same time.
The intention is to have ministers nominated on November 29th, assuming the Ulster Unionist Council has met and approved the deal on November 27th.