Trimble hints at talks move

Mr Trimble was re-elected as party leader at the meeting

The Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has hinted the prime minister is preparing to put proposals to the parties before Easter in a bid to kickstart devolution.

Mr Trimble was speaking after defeating a leadership challenge at his party council's annual general meeting on Saturday.

The latest deadlock in the political process follows claims of IRA involvement in the alleged false imprisonment of a dissident republican in Belfast in February.

Claims by Chief Constable Hugh Orde that Provisional IRA members were behind it have overshadowed the review of the Agreement, with Mr Trimble walking out of the talks.

The UUP leader said a report from the Independent Monitoring Commission on the incident could be a catalyst for breaking the stalemate.

"There is some expectation that that report may be published before Easter," said Mr Trimble.

"Consequently, this may pave the way for the prime minster to return after Easter, to put some pretty firm proposals, and some hard and straightforward proposals to parties.

"I hope he does and I hope we see the deadlock broken as a result of that and let us see where we go from there."

Following last November's assembly election, the Democratic Unionist Party overtook the UUP as the main unionist party in Northern Ireland.

With the DUP refusing to negotiate with Sinn Fein and the Ulster Unionists not participating in the review, no round table sessions are being held.

Meanwhile, Mr Trimble has said he is "delighted" to have received the Ulster Unionist Council's backing in the leadership vote.

He secured 59.8% of the votes, while his two challengers, Coleraine management consultant David Hoey won 21.6%, and Portadown businessman Robert Oliver polled 17.6%.

Mr Hoey conceded defeat and said he would no longer "actively oppose" Mr Trimble.

Ulster Unionist peer Lord Maginnis urged party members to unite and called on members to "get back on side and abide by the decision".

However, there was some dissension among the 750 or so delegates who attended the meeting.

The Ulster Unionist council also passed new rules, which Mr Trimble said would "centralise and transform the party from a loose coalition of associations to a modern political force".

The political institutions in Northern Ireland were suspended in October 2002 amid allegations of IRA intelligence-gathering in the Northern Ireland Office.