UUP dissidents to meet De Chastelain

The two Ulster Unionist Party dissidents, who could stand in the way of David Trimble's re-election as First Minister in the Northern Executive, are to meet with General John De Chastelain this afternoon.

One of the rebels, Pauline Armitage has said she has seven demands on decommissioning.

If three or four of these are satisfactorily met then she said she will vote for Mr Trimble's re-election.

Both Ms Armitage and Peter Weir could risk being thrown out of the party if they vote against their leader's re-election.

Meanwhile, Martin McGuinness has offered to meet with both to impress on them the magnitude of the IRA's move on decommissioning.