Unionist confidence must be restored: UUP

The Ulster Unionist Party has warned that the Northern Assembly is facing collapse within weeks unless unionist confidence in the peace process is restored.

A delegation of UUP members met Northern Secretary John Reid yesterday to discuss their concerns about the process.

The meeting was called to discuss British security service allegations that the IRA was testing weapons in Colombia and police allegations that the IRA was orchestrating street clashes in east Belfast.

Fred Cobain, a member of the delegation, said republicans need to show their commitment to exclusively political means.