Trimble 'willing to withdraw' from Executive

The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, David Trimble, has warned that he is willing to withdraw support for the power-sharing Executive if it will save the Belfast Agreement.

Speaking after his resounding victory in yesterday’s all-party vote on the issue of remaining within the Executive, Mr Trimble warned that he is still willing to pull out of the Stormont Executive if progress cannot be made.

Anti-agreement MP, Jeffery Donaldson, had proposed a motion for UUP Ministers to pull out of the Executive on July 1 if sanctions were not imposed on Sinn Fein.

The motion was defeated in what is seen as a vote of confidence for the leadership of Mr Trimble.

However the UUP leader refused to rule out withdrawing later if ‘modest’ restraints were not imposed on Sinn Fein, following allegations that the IRA has breached its ceasefire.