Leaders of the Progressive Unionist Party are meeting to decide whether to stay in the Northern Ireland peace talks.

The loyalist party's 35-member executive is under pressure to call off its threat to withdraw from the negotiations.

Loyalist prisoners from the Ulster Freedom Fighters and Ulster Defence Association have announced support for the peace process following a meeting inside the Maze Prison with the Northern Ireland Secretary, Mo Mowlam.

PUP - in or out of talks?

The other two loyalist parties, the Ulster Unionists and the Ulster Democrats, will be at the talks when they are due to resume at Stormont on Monday.

But the PUP, the political wing of the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force, remains unhappy at the Government's handling of the peace process.

Billy Hutchinson, a Belfast city councillor and a member of the talks team is opposed to a return, but admitted he was not prepared to make any prediction on the outcome.

David Adams, a member of the UDP's Stormont delegation, said: "It's essential the three loyalist and unionist parties are there to continue to uphold the pro-union position.

"I hope the concerns which the PUP has expressed can be resolved in a fashion which will allow them to join in."
 

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