The Ulster Unionist Party's ruling council meets again this morning for another crunch showdown between party leader, David Trimble, and the Anti-Agreement camp, led by Jeffrey Donaldson.

Tensions within David Trimble’s Ulster Unionist Party were mounting tonight as rival sides began a last-minute bid for votes ahead of a ruling council showdown.

Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble has predicted that he will win the support of his party’s ruling council when it meets tomorrow.

Three rebel Ulster Unionist MPs today warned their leader David Trimble that he is risking a “disastrous and irreversible split” in the party by backing disciplinary action against them.

Disciplinary action against three rebel Ulster Unionist MPs could wreck the party, it was warned today.

The Ulster Unionist Party's officer board has decided to convene a meeting of the party's ruling council to decide whether disciplinary action should be taken against the three anti-agreement MPs who have defied party leader David Trimble.

Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson has claimed the UUP Officer Board's decision to proceed with a second disciplinary hearing against him and his two collegues has made matters worse.

The Ulster Unionist Party decided today to try again to discipline three MPs who have defied the leadership.

The Ulster Unionist Party has decided to proceed with the second disciplinary hearing against three rebel MPs.

Hardline Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson was tonight considering his political future after losing the latest vote at his party’s ruling council.

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble tonight succeeded in watering down his main rival Jeffrey Donaldson’s attempts to tie his hands over the British and Irish Governments’ plans for the peace process.

Hard-line Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson would not be drawn on his future as colleagues gathered for a crucial showdown of the party’s ruling council this evening.

The Taoiseach has said the Statement by the Ulster Unionist Council is regrettable and a cause of concern.

The Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams is calling on the British Prime Minister Tony Blair to take action because the North is in a crisis.

David Trimble has just made a statement from the UUP meeting.

The Ulster Unionist Party's 860-strong council has just adjourned its meeting in Belfast.

A UUP spokesman has said party members are trying to agree on a composite motion at today's UUP Council meeting.

Ulster unionists must address the contradiction of Sinn Féin being in Government in Northern Ireland while the IRA is active on the streets, hard line MP Jeffrey Donaldson claimed today.

It is understood the anti-Agreement wing of the Ulster Unionist Party is planning to propose an immediate withdrawal of Ulster Unionist ministers from the North-South bodies involving Northern Ireland Executive and Irish Government ministers.

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble faces an uphill battle later today to win a convincing vote of support.