Direction of unionism in balance as Trimble-Donaldson talks conclude

Showdown talks between David Trimble and his chief critic within the party, Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson, have broken up this afternoon with both men declining to make comment.

The outcome of today's crunch talks ahead of tomorrow's crucial Ulster Unionist Council meeting, could have far-reaching implications – not least the dissolution of the assembly, should hardline elements succeed in their demands for the party to leave the executive.

Tomorrow's UUP council meeting is the ninth that David Trimble has faced since the Good Friday Agreement, and it is expected to be the most difficult yet faced by the embattled first minister.

This time round, the anti-agreement camp led by Jeffrey Donaldson has been more vocal in their opposition to the direction the leadership has taken. Indeed, both Mr Donaldson and David Trimble have written letters to the council's 860 delegates in an attempt to garner support leading up to the debate.

Ahead of tomorrow's meeting, SDLP deputy leader Brid Rodgers has warned hardline unionists that there can be "no renegotiation of the Good Friday agreement".

"I am calling on David Trimble as he addresses the UUC tomorrow to set out clearly those benefits and opportunities. So far he has failed to do so. To date he has failed to build the confidence of the unionist community and has created doubt within the nationalist community as to where he really stands. On the other hand, the only alternative put forward so far by the no camp is a proposal to renegotiate the Good Friday Agreement.

"I want to make it absolutely clear that the SDLP will not be renegotiating the Good Friday Agreement. Those who walked away from the negotiations opted out of the process. Full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement was never going to be easy and has proved difficult. That is no excuse for any parties to walk away."

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, speaking in Dundalk at the party's Ard Fheis, also warned that the agreement should not be dependent on the fate of the UUC meeting.

"There is concern at the erosion of confidence, among nationalist and republicans, in the British government's handling of this process and it was the main focus of my discussions this week with Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern," he said.

"Reducing this process to one in which concessions are made to the UUP each time they create a crisis, while failing on key issues such as policing, demilitarisation, equality and human rights, is a recipe for disaster."

(GMcG)