Smear claim likely to dominate unionist news conferences

Last night's claim by the anti-Agreement unionist candidate for Fermanagh/South Tyrone that he is the target of a smear campaign is likely to dominate today's press conferences by the UUP and DUP.

The parties originally called the conferences to outline their different positions on the Good Friday Agreement. Independent unionist Jim Dixon, who was seriously wounded in the 1987 Enniskillen bombing, announced yesterday that he was pulling out of the race for health reasons.

He then issued a statement at first blaming the Ulster Unionists, though this was later amended to hold "fellow unionists" culpable.

The UUP candidate in the constituency, James Cooper, has challenged Mr Dixon to tell him, in confidence, about the substance of his allegations. So far there has been no further comment from Mr Dixon.