'Elections must be called if Trimble fails' - SF

Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness has said the Northern Secretary, John Reid, must call new assembly elections in the North if David Trimble fails to secure enough support to be re-elected as First Minister tomorrow.

Mr McGuinness said Sinn Fein would prefer to see Mr Trimble reinstated as First Minister, but if he fails, the Northern Assembly should not be suspended again.

Mr Trimble’s future depends on the votes of two anti-agreement UUP members who have signalled their scepticism about the IRA’s move on decommissioning.

Pauline Armitage and Peter Weir have said they might block Mr Trimble’s re-election because of their unwillingness to share power with Sinn Fein.