Parties attack UUP charter

Gerry Adams dismissed the UUP charter

The Ulster Unionists' newly published 10 principles will form the core of their manifesto for the assembly election campaign, party leader David Trimble has said.

The party said the charter had been agreed by all assembly candidates and UUP MPs - including rebel MPs Jeffrey Donaldson, David Burnside and Martin Smyth.

The principles, published on Tuesday, commit the party to achieve the end of loyalist and republican paramilitary groups.

Among the UUP proposals are:

Ulster Unionists will work for and serve in an inclusive, democratic assembly

Ulster Unionists will hold firmly to the requirement for 'acts of completion' dealing conclusively with decommissioning, terrorist activity and the effective winding up of paramilitary organisations

Make clear that the transition to peace and democracy is being brought to a conclusion before Sinn Fein can participate in a Northern Ireland Executive

Ulster Unionists support new powers to monitor paramilitary activity and impose sanctions

Ulster Unionists look forward to a normal security profile in a peaceful environment, retaining the Home Service RIR.

Oppose any amnesty or apparent amnesty for fugitives from justice (OTRs)

Peter Robinson said charter was "a con"

Meanwhile, speaking at UUP headquarters on Tuesday, Mr Trimble said he was saddened that his party's former chief whip, Ivan Davis, had chosen to stand as an independent in the Lagan Valley constituency.

Asked if Mr Davis would be expelled, Mr Trimble said the Ulster Unionists were a party of rules and the rules must take their course.

Mr Davis said he was running "to ensure that the wreckers do not succeed".

However, Jeffrey Donaldson, who is also standing in Lagan Valley, accused him of putting "personal interests" before wider unionism.

Mr Davis, who was deselected by the UUP, said: "Essentially I am standing to ensure that the wreckers do not succeed."

Responding to the UUP's charter, Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams said: "Our task is to deal with Sinn Fein's platform - not the platform of any other party."

SDLP's Mark Durkan said the principles were "a whitewash"

Democratic Unionist Party deputy leader Peter Robinson dismissed the Ulster Unionist charter.

"Signing up to the charter is a con on the part of pro-agreement Ulster Unionists and a climb down on the part of so-called anti-agreement unionists."

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: "Fair play to the other parties. When they whitewash they come up with 10 principles."