Trimble resigns as first minister

David Trimble has stood down as Northern Ireland First Minister.

The move sets off a six-week countdown to find a solution to the IRA disarmament row that has bedevilled the peace process.

Mr Trimble's resignation took effect at midnight, the deadline for a substantial move on weapons under a deal which persuaded him to enter government with republicans just over a year ago.

The Ulster Unionist leader was in France when his tenure came to an end as head of the devolved administration in Stormont, set up under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

One of his leading party allies, Sir Reg Empey, was appointed to take over the functions of the post, leaving six weeks for either the reinstatement of Mr Trimble or other moves to prevent the collapse of the institutions afterwards.

As all sides prepared for yet another round of negotiations to overcome the latest crisis, Mr Trimble's party colleagues applauded his move and agreed there could be no going back until the IRA actually started giving up its guns.

One-time Trimble critic Jeffrey Donaldson said: "Let's be very clear about this. There is going to be no fudging the issue this time."

Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Sir Reg will not take the title, salary or trappings of the office of First Minister, but his appointment will allow meetings of the power-sharing executive to take place, co-chaired by SDLP deputy leader Seamus Mallon - until last night the Deputy First Minister.

While the legal deadline is six weeks for the resumption of normal devolved politics in Northern Ireland, the administration may face an even earlier cut-off point - the end of intensive negotiations involving British and Irish premiers in less than two weeks' time.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has said Mr Trimble's "kamikaze politics" are not going to achieve his objective of IRA decommissioning.