Talks on NI political crisis

David Trimble and his three ministers have resigned

The UK and Irish Governments are discussing their next move in an attempt to prevent the total collapse of the Northern Ireland political process.

It follows the resignation of five unionist ministers.

Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid is meeting Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen in Dublin on Friday.

And UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish Premier Bertie Ahern are expected to discuss the situation on the fringes of an EU summit in Belgium.

The three Ulster Unionist Party and two Democratic Unionist Party ministers withdrew from the assembly on Thursday.

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Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble's party led the resignations.

Mr Trimble said his party could no longer sit in the powersharing executive with Sinn Fein in the absence of IRA decommissioning.

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

Under assembly rules, there are seven days in which the UUP leader could prevent the collapse of the powersharing arrangement and a return to direct rule by deciding to re-nominate his ministers.

But David Trimble has said that will depend on the IRA putting its weapons beyond use in a verifiable and meaningful way.

The UK Government must decide within the next seven days how to react to the latest crisis in the political process.

John Reid: Tough decisions to make

If it looks unlikely that the IRA is prepared to move on decommissioning in time for the parties to find a new political resolution, the Northern Ireland secretary will have to decide within the next seven days either to suspend the assembly or call an assembly elections.

The UK and Irish governments feel elections would further cement the current divisions and are likely to suspend devolution.

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 it is based.

Alternatively, the process for electing replacement ministers could be activated in seven days, if ministers are not reappointed by the UUP leader.

Arms speculation

Mr Trimble held a round of meetings with the province's other main parties at Stormont on Thursday before making his final decision on the resignations.

There had been intense speculation a deal was being constructed to save the powersharing government as he met Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams in private.

Martin McGuinness: "Ulster Unionist attitudes will have to change"

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

The letters of resignation for Economy Minister Sir Reg Empey, Environment Minister Sam Foster and Culture Minister Michael McGimpsey were then lodged with the assembly speaker.

Mr Trimble resigned himself as Northern Ireland first minister in July to put pressure on the republican movement on decommissioning.

The Democratic Unionist Party confirmed the resignations of its two ministers, Maurice Morrow in social development and Regional development minister Gregory Campbell.

'Time for arms move'

Mr Trimble 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," he said.

Lets turn this speculation on decommissioning into a reality

Sean Farren SDLP

But speaking on BBC Radio Ulster on Friday, the nationalist SDLP's Further and higher education minister Sean Farren said the unionists had threatened the political and economic stability which everyone in Northern Ireland desired.

But he said his party "shared their frustration about the lack of progress on decommissioning".

"Lets turn this speculation on decommissioning into a reality. We can no longer tolerate the failure to move on this significant issue," he said.

Business fears

Asked if he knew whether the IRA was going to hold a convention at the weekend to discuss its next move, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness said he knew "absolutely nothing".

Mr McGuinness, education minister in the executive, said there would have to be a major shift in Ulster Unionist attitudes "if there's to be any prospect of creating the essential context which will see our groups face up to the need to put their weapons beyond use".

The Northern Ireland Federation of Small Businesses said the political instability caused by the resignations could put a large number of companies at risk.

Glyn Roberts from the federation said jobs would be lost and the livelihood of many people affected if a resolution to the current political problems was not found fast.