Unionist ministers to quit

David Trimble arriving at Stormont for meetings

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has announced the resignation of the three UUP ministers from the Northern Ireland Executive.

He made the announcement at Stormont shortly after 1600 BST on Thursday.

It will take effect from midnight on Thursday.

Mr Trimble said papers indicating that the two Democratic Unionist ministers would also be resigning have been lodged.

The latest crisis in the Northern Ireland political process has been brought about by the absence of decommissioning of IRA arms.

Absence of a deal

The resignations went ahead despite wide-spread speculation that the IRA was considering a move over the arms issue.

The withdrawal of UUP and DUP ministers, in the absence of a deal on decommissioning could again lead to the suspension of the province's power-sharing executive.

Mr Trimble said: "As of now, the necessary documentation to vacate the three executive offices held by Reg (Empey), by Sam (Foster) and by Michael (McGimpsey) has been lodged with the Speaker's office.

"It takes effect from midnight tonight - both with regard to our own three departments and indeed the two departments held by the DUP."

He said it was now "over to the secretary of state".

"We take this decision with no pleasure - it has been a long time in coming. Ever since the IRA failed to keep its promise to put its weapons beyond use this problem became inevitable."

The UUP leader said he had given "due notice" of the move.

'No negotiations'

Mr Trimble earlier held a round of meetings with the province's other main parties amid intense speculation a deal was being constructed to save Northern Ireland's power-sharing government.

Gerry Adams: Held private meeting with Unionist leader

However, the UUP leader said there were no negotiations taking place.

He has said his party will no longer sit in government with Sinn Fein while the IRA refuses to begin decommissioning its arms.

Ulster Unionist sources said Mr Trimble went to Stormont intending to lodge a resignation from his party's three ministers first thing on Thursday morning.

Mr Trimble held a private meeting with Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams at parliament buildings on Thursday morning.

The meeting was held after republican sources strongly hinted on Wednesday that a deal on IRA weapons decommissioning was possible, as long as the Ulster Unionists showed commitment to powersharing.

There were indications that the outline of a deal could be emerging behind the scenes, although it is understood substantial difficulties on the possible sequencing of events remain.

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Neither politician made any comment after the private meeting.

Mr Trimble also met the nationalist SDLP leader elect, Mark Durkan, who is Northern Ireland finance minister.

Mr Durkan said the secretary of state should do nothing to compound the situation by suspending the assembly.

"All of us have to face up to our responsibilities," he said.

The Ulster Unionist leader also had a meeting with the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Ian Paisley.

The decommissioning of arms remains a key stumbling block

If a deal takes shape it may not prevent the Ulster Unionist executive withdrawals, but there is a short window of opportunity after any resignations where the power-sharing arrangement could be pulled back from collapse if the parties agreed a last minute settlement.

Ulster Unionist sources have indicated that ministers could be re-appointed if "verifiable decommissioning" decommissioning happened after their withdrawal.

'Intensive negotiations'

The withdrawal of UUP ministers, in the absence of any prospect of a deal on IRA decommissioning, the stability of the province's political institutions and British Government demilitarisation, would lead to the collapse of the institutions.

It is expected, however, that Dr Reid would reintroduce direct rule before the assembly collapsed.

If devolution is suspended for an unlimited period, it is likely the government will start a review of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, on which devolution is based.

A senior Sinn Fein source said on Wednesday that intensive negotiations were taking place to secure a deal aimed at saving the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The latest crisis in the peace process was precipitated by Mr Trimble's resignation as first minister in July, a move designed to put pressure on the republican movement.

He announced two weeks ago that he intended to bring the political crisis to a head by withdrawing the rest of the Ulster Unionist ministers because his party could no longer sit in the executive with Sinn Fein.