Trimble walks out of Stormont talks

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble today walked out of round table talks at Stormont.

He left in protest after a leaked Irish Government document suggested that the IRA was still active.

With the Northern Secretary of State Paul Murphy and Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen also involved in the discussions, the governments had hoped to advance the process in a bid to restore devolved Northern Assembly in Belfast.

Mr Trimble insisted: "The people of Northern Ireland would not understand us talking as if nothing had happened.''

Robert McCartney of the UK Unionist Party, who is opposed to the Good Friday Agreement, also left today's talks which were due to last for four hours and finish at 6pm.

According to an Irish Government document the provisionals are still recruiting, training and acquiring weapons as a precaution, rather than in preparation of a return to war.