COVER 120 candidates had declared themselves by the close of nominations for the election in Northern Ireland yesterday.
The battle intensified, particularly among those parties fighting for the same voters on either side of the community divide. Denunciations flew between the rival unionist parties, on the one side, and between Sinn Fein and the SDLP on the other.
Sinn Fein and the SDLP are facing each other in every constituency except North Down, where there is a large unionist majority. Repeated appeals from Sinn Fein for a voting pact were rejected by the SDLP because of the absence of an IRA ceasefire.
The Sinn Fein chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, yesterday continued the war of words. He defended the party's earlier attack on the SDLP, to which Mr John Hume delivered a vigorous response on Tuesday.
"Our recent criticisms of the SDLP were precipitated by an attack on Sinn Fein by the SDLP deputy leader Seamus Mallon who accused us of deceiving the nationalist electorate," he said.
"Equally, SDLP claims of ownership of the peace process are unhelpful. The search for peace has been a collective effort on the part of many individuals and it is not the property of any one party."
The DUP and the Ulster Unionists are facing each other in seven of the 18 constituencies, despite appeals from both sides to stand down in favour of what each party claimed was the stronger unionist candidate.
Mrs Iris Robinson, wife of the party's deputy leader, Peter, accused her UUP rival, Mr John Taylor, of neglect of his Newtownards constituency when she handed in her nomination papers yesterday.
"People are asking what has he been doing, people have been trying to see him, but cannot find him," she said.
Her husband is facing a threat in East Belfast from the former UUP Lord Mayor of Belfast, Mr Reg Empey. He attacked the DUP deputy leader robustly yesterday.
"He is clearly in a panic because he realises this is a close two horse race between the UUP and the DUP, and that is why all his statements have been directed against the UUP," he said.
In the same constituency the Alliance candidate, Mr Jim Hendron, accused both parties of holding up progress at the talks.
"The people of Northern Ireland are tired of violence, intransigence and empty promises," he said. "They are ready for politicians with the courage to negotiate and deliver a workable political solution."
The party is contesting all 18 constituencies, as is the Natural Law Party. The Conservative, Party and the Workers' Party are both fielding candidates in eight, and the Women's Coalition is running in three. The Progressive Unionist Party is also fielding three.