UUP and DUP engage in street slanging match

A slanging match erupted on the streets of east Belfast today after Dr Ian Paisley's DUP unveiled a mobile billboard right outside the Ulster Unionist Party's headquarters.

Dr Paisley and senior members of the Democratic Unionist Party, including Peter Robinson and William McCrea, unveiled the anti-UUP billboard on the doorstep of Ulster Unionist headquarters in Tuesday morning.

However, they where soon confronted by UUP leader David Trimble and fellow party members who began barracking Mr Paisley over his apparent lack of television debate during this month's forthcoming Assembly elections which take place on November 26.

During the 10-minute charade DUP members chanted "Where's Jeffrey?" in reference in Lagan Valley UUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson. An outspoken opponent of Mr Trimble's policies Mr Donaldson this morning unveiled a mini-manifesto.

Dr Paisley said he would choose the time and the place for a debate with Mr Trimble.

The exchange of mild insults continued for several more minutes before Mr Trimble was eventually ushered away in a car.

Speaking after the DUP’s billboard unveiling outside UUP HQ, senior Ulster Unionist Sir Reg Empey described the stunt as a "sign of desperation" on the part of the DUP.

"To deliberately come to another Party’s Headquarters is an act of provocation caused by the repeated challenges from David Trimble for Ian Paisley to debate the issues in front of the people of Ulster.

“His failure, so far, to do so is matched only by the pathetic attempts of his underlings to make excuses for his non-appearance."

Sir Reg re-issued a challenge to Dr Paisley to debate the future of Unionism on prime-time television with Mr Trimble.

(MB/SP)