[OG being sarky--I thought Bill had solved this problem as part of his legacy.]

BBC Sunday, 1 July, 2001, 16:02 GMT 17:02 UK

Trimble departure threatens stability

David Trimble's resignation as first minister has thrown Northern Ireland into a period of political uncertainty despite plans for further negotiations to try to preserve devolution.

The Ulster Unionist leader has admitted using his resignation to put pressure on the IRA to disarm is a risky strategy but one worth taking to further the political process.

After his resignation came into effect at midnight on Saturday, Mr Trimble said he was not prepared to let republicans undermine the democratic principles of the Good Friday Agreement by holding onto their arms.

His resignation came on the eve of the latest report from the decommissioning body, which is expected to confirm that no further progress on weapons has taken place.

The assembly now has six weeks to re-install the Ulster Unionist leader or replace him before the devolved institutions collapse under legislation brought in under the Agreement.

He has nominated party colleague and trade minister Sir Reg Empey to fulfil the administrative functions of the office of first minister at the assembly as a caretaker minister over the next six weeks.

During that time the British and Irish Governments are to hold another series of talks with the parties to try to find a settlement which will finally resolve the outstanding problems in implementing the Good Friday Agreement.

However, there has been no sign of movement during weeks of negotiations which climaxed on Friday when Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern flew into the province to speak to the political parties.

If a deal can not be agreed, the Northern Ireland secretary could either suspend the assembly or call an assembly election.

'No progress on arms'

The absence of progress on decommissioning will be confirmed in the latest report from the international decommissioning body, which is expected to be published on Monday.

The BBC understands that the report from the Independent International Decommissioning Commission says that that contacts with the IRA and loyalists are continuing.

There is legislation which allows General John de Chastelain's decommissioning body to continue working until February 2002, however, it reports that no weapons have actually been decommissioned.

Sinn Fein has made it clear that the IRA will not move to put its arms beyond use until it is satisfied that all of the interlocking parts of the Good Friday Agreement are being implemented.

The organisation's stated context for decommissioning includes further changes to the police service, demilitarisation by the British Government and that the province's powersharing institutions are stable and working on an inclusive basis.

Old positions

Last week said the two prime ministers said the parties had presented nothing new to them, but just "the same old arguments".

And it seems unlikely that either Sinn Fein or the Ulster Unionists will move from their opposing positions unless an opportunity for manoeuvre is created by other parties to the process.

Mr Trimble said on Sunday he was prepared to re-enter his office "only if we get this issue settled and we see weapons being put permanently beyond use in accordance with the decommissioning legislation".

However, SDLP deputy leader Seamus Mallon, who has lost his official post as Northern Ireland deputy first minister in the joint office he shared with Mr Trimble, hinted that his party is ready to take a stronger line against republicans on the arms issue.

Speaking on the BBC's Seven Days programme he added that both Sinn Fein and the DUP - who refuse to sit in executive meetings with Sinn Fein - were in default of the Agreement.

However, Sinn Fein chairman Mitchel McLaughlin warned that if any move was taken to expel Sinn Fein from the Assembly executive would involve "tearing up the Good Friday Agreement".

Arguing Mr Trimble's resignation had struck a blow against devolution, Mr McLaughlin told BBC Radio Four any move to expel Sinn Fein would "entail disenfranchising 25% of the population in the North".

"I think it would be an incredibly stupid mistake," he said.

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2001