Trimble 'unfit' to lead unionism says Paisley

DUP Leader Ian Paisley has declared Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble as "unfit" to lead unionism into negotiations to resurrect devolution.

The North Antrim MP issued his statement following what he called "another false dawn by the pro-Agreement parties" during yesterday's supposed breakthrough in negotiations between the UUP and Sinn Fein.

“The day that the pro-Agreement parties promised would be an historic breakthrough has proved to be yet another false dawn," Dr Paisley said. "The process has descended from high deception into low farce. The move by the IRA brings nothing new in terms of words and little different in terms of decommissioning and once again events have been over hyped and are entirely devoid of substance."

Dr Paisley claimed yesterday's IRA decommissioning statement from Gen John de Chastelain was nothing more than a "hollow sham".

"The IRA has made the UUP look ridiculous with this pathetic effort. This is a demonstration of the most inept form of negotiation by the UUP imaginable. They are utterly unfit to represent unionism," Dr Paisley said.

(MB)