Trimble says UUP hardliners will give IRA excuse

UUP leader David Trimble has said hardliners within his own party will be giving the IRA an excuse to delay decommissioning if they insist on imposing another artificial deadline for complete disarmament.

In a last minute appeal for unity ahead of tomorrow’s Ulster Unionist ruling council meeting, Mr Trimble urged his critics to end their "self-destructive displays of division".