'Only UUP can deliver deal'

No other unionist party can deliver a lasting settlement in Northern Ireland, according to the Ulster Unionist Party leader.

Launching his party's manifesto, David Trimble said "the job of firmly establishing peace and democracy is not yet finished".

In a foreword to the 16-page document, Mr Trimble said there had been recent progress in the effort to rid Northern Ireland of paramilitaries.

"Progress occurred. Republicans talked of pursuing their objectives peacefully," he said.

"They defined the Agreement as providing full and final closure of the conflict. But they failed to decommission in a manner to maximise public confidence or to give the assurance that this time the process would be completed.

"Nonetheless the job can be completed. We know what is needed. We understand the difficulties. We have stuck at it. And we know that there is no-one else in the unionist community who can do it.

"We want to see the assembly restored - but only when republicans have dealt conclusively with the issues of decommissioning, continued paramilitary activity and the effective winding-up of their private army."

The UUP said Northern Ireland's Assets Recovery Agency had to have sufficient funding to tackle paramilitary and criminal gangs.

'Mobile classrooms'

The party's manifesto pointed to its record in government and its pledges for devolution and the peace process.

The main points of the UUP manifesto include:

Delivering an integrated health centre (a polyclinic) in every major population area and supporting midwife-led maternity units in Counties Tyrone and Down

Replacing all mobile classrooms with permanent accommodation within five years; supporting academic selection allied to pupil profiles from primary to post primary education and extending access to nursery schools

Increasing the number of police officers on frontline duty; removing 50:50 quotas for Catholic and Protestant police recruits and delivering a community relations policy based on tolerance and mutual respect

Completing the dualing of major roads - Belfast to Enniskillen, Larne, Londonderry and Newry; reducing congestion and pollution through investment in public transport and pushing forward the review of public administration

Building a national sports stadium for Northern Ireland which would serve as a centre for excellence for sport; promoting Northern Ireland as a branded tourism project with a Museum of Sea and Air located in Belfast's Titanic Quarter and introducing legislation to tackle pollution and polluters

Tackling economic disadvantages; highlighting insurance problems for business and reduce further energy costs; investing more in research and development by both universities and industry; bringing increased investment in rural development and producing a rural energy strategy and supporting the fishing industry

The party also revealed it would be using a helicopter to fly senior UUP members around the 18 constituencies, where it is fielding 43 candidates.