Trimble ultimatum puts peace process in peril

David Trimble's Ulster Unionist Party yesterday teed up a major political crisis for January by pledging to pull out of government unless republicans prove they have given up violence for good.

Mr Trimble committed himself to the resignation of his party's ministers at a specially convened meeting of the party attended by more than 800 delegates.

Following a struggle between Mr Trimble and his hardline opponents, led by MP Jeffrey Donaldson, there was a last-minute compromise. Mr Donaldson advocated an earlier withdrawal from the Northern Ireland Executive, while Mr Trimble wanted to buy more time.

In the end delegates unanimously supported what was described as a unity motion. Unusually, the two men and their supporters then appeared together at a joint news conference.

Some observers felt that had Mr Donaldson pressed his motion to a vote, he might have won, thus inflicting possibly fatal political damage on Mr Trimble.

The new, tougher Unionist position means a crisis is looming in the peace process, since Mr Trimble has in effect committed himself to bringing down his own government, unless Sinn Fein or the IRA come up with a groundbreaking gesture.

In the meantime the Ulster Unionists will attempt to block ministerial meetings with the Irish government that involve Sinn Fein.

* Andre Shoukri, the leader of the paramilitary Ulster Defence Association in north Belfast, was one of two men arrested yesterday after police found a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition in a car.