Unionists have reacted angrily to the demilitarisation that has been taking place over the last few days in the North.

Reg Empey will today face a request from his closest leadership challenger, Alan McFarland, for an urgent meeting over his refusal to go into government with Sinn Féin ahead of the next Assembly Election.

A senior Ulster Unionist today told candidates for the party leadership they must oppose any form of devolution which would see Sinn Féin in government if they are to stand any chance of securing his backing in the contest.

Members of the Ulster Unionist Party’s ruling executive will gather in Belfast today to decide whether to hold a swift leadership contest.

Outgoing Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble is expected to explain his decision to resign in Belfast today.

Ulster Unionists were today contemplating life without David Trimble as leader.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams was today comfortably elected in the British parliamentary elections in the North.

The Irish and British governments must be prepared to share power in Northern Ireland if unionists refuse to go into government with nationalists, a senior Sinn Féin negotiator insisted tonight.

The Ulster Unionist vote will hold its own in next week’s general and local elections in Northern Ireland, one of the party’s candidate’s said tonight.

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell last night insisted he was campaigning for an SDLP general election candidate in a personal capacity following criticism of his visit to Belfast by Sinn Féin.

There will be a major realignment in unionism in Northern Ireland in the post-David Trimble and Ian Paisley era, it was claimed today.

Sinn Féin must be warned that the IRA’s activities must end following accusations that it was behind the £26.5m (€38.1m) Northern Bank raid, ministers in the UK were told tonight.

The British government is considering a voluntary coalition in Northern Ireland which would freeze Sinn Féin out of office, republicans were warned tonight.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair is due to meet DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Féin chairman Mitchel McLaughlin today to discuss the fall-out from last month's £26.5m (€37.8m) bank heist in Belfast.

NORTHERN Ireland Chief Constable Hugh Orde has not produced one scrap of evidence that the IRA was behind the £26.5 million Northern Bank raid in Belfast, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness claimed yesterday.

Northern Ireland Chief Constable Hugh Orde has not produced one scrap of evidence that the IRA was behind the £26.5m (€37.8m) Northern Bank raid in Belfast, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness claimed today.

The Government’s credibility will be tested if three republicans on the run from Colombian authorities return to Dublin, it was claimed today.

Hardline unionists have called for Sinn Féin's exclusion from politics in the North following a court decision to overturn the acquittal of the so-called Colombia Three.

The Colombian authorities have issued warrants for the arrest of the so-called Colombia Three following a Supreme Court ruling overturning their acquittal for training anti-government rebels.

David Trimble’s Ulster Unionist and Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists should put their differences aside and form a Westminster coalition, it was claimed tonight.

Unionists must guard themselves against a choreographed campaign to put Sinn Féin back in government, an Ulster Unionist MP claimed today.

More than £3m (€4.5m) has been seized in the first year of a new offensive against Northern Ireland’s crime and terror bosses.

The competition between Northern Ireland’s four biggest political parties in the European Parliament elections has nothing to do with EU issues, a candidate claimed today.

British government promises to scale down security along the border must be implemented despite calls for freight lorries to be protected, SDLP Assembly member Dominic Bradley said today.

Ulster Unionists want the party to unite in the run-up to this June’s European Parliament elections, the party’s candidate Jim Nicholson claimed today.

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble will continue to face calls to stand down even if he wins today’s leadership battle, South Antrim MP David Burnside claimed today.

Ulster Unionists were preparing today to vote on whether David Trimble should remain as their leader.

An Ulster Unionist who is bidding to oust David Trimble from the party leadership urged 13 Assembly members today to back his challenge.

David Trimble is to face a leadership challenge in eight days, it emerged today.

A leading tobacco firm today requested an urgent meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy to discuss security for its lorries along the border with the Republic.

David Trimble, will almost certainly face a leadership challenge if he refuses to stand down within days, a leading anti-Agreement member of his own party claimed today.

ULSTER UNIONIST leader David Trimble yesterday suffered a setback when almost half of his Northern Ireland Assembly group backed a letter querying whether he should stay at the party helm.

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble will face a leadership challenge if he refuses to stand down within days, he was warned tonight.

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble faced renewed pressure to resign today after his predecessor called for a change in the party’s management.

BELEAGUERED David Trimble last night faced the threat of a new leadership challenge without the support of his deputy after he was accused of losing the trust and confidence of his troubled and split Ulster Unionist Party.

Beleaguered David Trimble tonight faced the threat of a new leadership challenge without the support of his deputy after he was accused of losing the trust and confidence of his troubled and hopelessly split Ulster Unionist Party.

David Trimble today faced demands from MP David Burnside to step down as Ulster Unionist leader next month.

The anti-agreement Ulster Unionist David Burnside is expected to call for a leadership election within the party at Stormont today.

A SENIOR unionist yesterday urged ministers to “take on” Sinn Féin which he accused of being funded by profits of illegal terrorist and criminal activity.

Two rebel Ulster Unionist MPs tonight resumed the party whip after a seven-month dispute with their leadership.

Former Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson was expected today to confirm his defection to the Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists.

REBEL MP Jeffrey Donaldson last night quit the Ulster Unionist Party.

Fresh talks have been launched to avoid a bitter split in David Trimble’s Ulster Unionist Party, it emerged today.

The Northern Ireland Assembly is costing £1.93m (€2.74m) a month to run - despite devolved government being suspended, Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy disclosed tonight.