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.