Unionists and nationalists have said former British Prime Minister Edward Heath will not be remembered fondly by the people of Northern Ireland.

THE Competition Authority has cleared the takeover of the Athlone Voice newspaper.

THE Leinster Leader group of newspapers is on the market with a price tag of more than €100 million.

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.

Former British Army major Alan McFarland today entered the race to become leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.

A former Stormont minister was today preparing to enter the race for the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party.

Colonel Tim Collins ruled himself out today as a contender for the Ulster Unionist Party leadership.

SYLVIA HERMON last night dramatically withdrew from the race to succeed David Trimble as the leader of the Ulster Unionists.

FORMER Ulster Unionist MP John Taylor is set to take control of the Athlone Voice, a midlands regional newspaper.

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

Former Ulster Unionist MP John Taylor has ruled himself out of any potential leadership challenge, he confirmed today.

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.

With all 108 seats filled in the Northern Ireland Assembly the party shares are:

Unionists have welcomed the announcement of elections in the North, but said peace was not yet assured.

Former Ulster Unionist MP John Taylor has claimed total IRA decommissioning would not be a drastic enough move to win unionist support for the re-establishment of the North's suspended political institutions.

The British government must vigorously defend the Good Friday Agreement from the “serial vandalism” of unionist politicians, nationalist SDLP leader Mark Durkan claimed today.

The unprecedented IRA apology came at a crucial time for the Northern Ireland peace process.

Ulster Unionists have said the IRA statement was not enough - they wanted more, including an assurance that the war was over.

The Ulster Unionist Party is due to hold talks next week on the possibility of merging with the British Conservative Party.

A row has broken out between UUP leader David Trimble and the party president Martin Smyth over Mr Trimble’s comments following last week’s act of IRA decommissioning.

As he left the tribunal Lord Kilclooney refused to comment on his remarks that 13 gunmen were killed on Bloody Sunday

The former UUP deputy leader John Taylor is being challenged to prove his claims at the Saville Inquiry that the Bloody Sunday civil rights march was a front for terrorists.

Leading Ulster Unionist John Taylor has created further controversy at the Saville Inquiry in Derry by claiming that the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association was a front for terrorists.

Prominent Ulster Unionist Lord Kilclooney said today that responsibility for security in Northern Ireland was ‘‘slipping away’’ from Belfast to Westminster at the time of Bloody Sunday.

The former Bishop of Derry was fired at by a soldier as he ran to the aid of a fatally wounded teenager on Bloody Sunday, the Saville Inquiry has heard.

The sister of a teenager shot dead by British troops on Bloody Sunday is mounting a legal bid to have Northern Ireland’s top judge excluded from an Appeal Court hearing challenging a ruling to have police witnesses screened at the Saville Tribunal.

Ronnie Flanagan’s immediate future as chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland is expected to be decided at a meeting in Belfast today.

A decision by Israel to ban Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from attending the annual Christmas service in Bethlehem was today condemned by an Ulster Unionist peer.

The creation of a Police Board of Unionists and Nationalists in Northern Ireland is a momentous step forward for the peace process, Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid said today.

David Trimble’s Ulster Unionists ushered in a new era for policing in Northern Ireland yesterday by agreeing to nominate members to a board handling police reforms.