Gary Duffy reports on both manifesto launches

The party leader David Trimble made the promise as he launched the party's manifesto for elections to the new Northern Ireland Assembly.

Mr Trimble warned the government and nationalists: "It is quite clear these issues have to be resolved satisfactorily before a shadow executive can be envisaged."

The party insists it wants decommissioning of illegal weapons to be completed within two years, and says this needs to start within months to prove the terrorists have unequivocally given up violence.

Mr Trimble admitted there will be problems setting up the assembly and on a number of issues.

"The question is whether we have confidence in our ability to cope with the problems if and when they arrive, and I believe we have."

UUP leader David Trimble

Mr Trimble said these were matters the various groups within the province would have to sort out for themselves, rather than leaving them to outside parties or governments.

Under the Good Friday agreement, October 31 is set as a target date for areas of agreement on cross-border co-operation and the setting up of a North-South council of ministers.

But Mr Trimble believed they did not need to be in place until power is transferred to the assembly and its executive next February.

Province at ease

On other issues, the manifesto said the party would be seeking a more focused approach on economic development and inward investment with an enhanced role for local government.

The party believed the assembly would also give Northern Ireland better representation in the European Community, particularly on agriculture and economic issues.

The document promised that the party would take Northern Ireland into the next century with confidence and vision and create a prosperous society "at ease with itself and its neighbours."

The PUP leadership

The smaller Progressive Unionist Party, which has links to one of the loyalist paramilitary groups, has also launched its manifesto.

It urged people to judge its contribution to the peace process before making up their minds.

Elections to the assembly take place on June 25.