Reid to hold NI talks

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Dr John Reid is to invite pro-Agreement parties to talks.

The talks may form part of a last ditch attempt to defuse tension following Ulster Unionists' threats to withdraw from the power-sharing executive.

A meeting of the UUP Ruling Council over the weekend resulted in the decision, which will only be overturned if tougher sanctions are imposed on republican groups.

IRA disarmament and disbandment are also key facets of the UUP decision.

If Mr Trimble is not satisfied with Sinn Féin's commitment to democracy, he has vowed to take the UUP out of the Northern Ireland Executive.

The British and Irish governments have now planned emergency talks on the looming crisis. Dr Reid has urged all sides to remember what is at stake.

The Unionist move came in the wake of allegations the IRA has been training left-wing Colombian terrorists and it broke into Special Branch offices at Castlereagh police station.