UUP ministers set to quit Stormont

Ulster Unionist ministers are expected to resign

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble is expected to withdraw his party from the Northern Ireland Executive at Stormont on Thursday.

The move is anticipated despite Sinn Fein hints on Wednesday that a deal on IRA weapons decommissioning was possible, as long as the Ulster Unionists showed commitment to powersharing.

The arms issue has been a major stumbling block in the Northern Ireland political process.

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

But Mr Trimble has been meeting Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams at parliament buildings and has not revealed when he intends to hand in the letter.

David Trimble will meet the main party leaders before making final decision

Economy minister Sir Reg Empey, who has also been carrying out the functions of Northern Ireland first minister, Culture minister Michael McGimpsey and Environment minister Sam Foster are expected to leave their departments shortly after the letter is lodged.

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

The Ulster Unionist leader is expected to meet the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Ian Paisley, later on Thursday.

It is expected Mr Trimble will make his final decision on the withdrawals after the meetings with the leaders of the province's four main parties.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid is to hold talks with Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen to discuss the political situation on Thursday.

The decommissioning of arms remains a key stumbling block

There are indications that an outline of a deal is emerging behind the scenes, although substantial difficulties of sequencing remain.

It may not prevent the Ulster Unionist executive withdrawals, but there is a short window of opportunity after any resignations where the powersharing 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.

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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.

Delicate talks

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 power sharing executive could collapse

The source said it could lead to a ground-breaking move by the IRA on the arms issue.

They said "delicate talks" were taking place to try to break the deadlock in negotiations that involved London, Dublin and Washington.

The Sinn Fein source described the talks as a "work in progress" with no guarantee of success.

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.