Stormont hard-liners could try to oust Sinn Fein

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble was today facing his Assembly party at Stormont as speculation mounted that hard-liners might try to force him to drive Sinn Fein out of the government of Northern Ireland.

As Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams also prepared to meet members of his party’s national executive in Dublin and hold talks with the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Mr Trimble was under pressure to take action against republicans.