The anti-Agreement Democratic Unionist Party has called on David Trimble to resign from the Northern Ireland Executive to stop controversial policing reform.

The DUP's two ministers on the executive called a press conference at Stormont on Thursday to say that, if Mr Trimble could force the executive to collapse by quitting, they would leave too.

Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds, who were against the formation of the power-sharing executive with Sinn Fein, made the call following the UK Government's announcement that it is to implement the Patten report on policing.

The DUP, Ulster Unionists and rank-and-file police officers were angered by the proposals to change to the Royal Ulster Constabulary's title and badge.

The two DUP members said Mr Trimble should leave the Executive now and not wait until the Ulster Unionist Ruling Council meeting on 12 February.

Mr Dodds said: "Do it today. Either unionist party acting unilaterally and one staying in, makes no difference, the institutions continue.

"We are challenging Trimble and his section of the unionist party: get out now while you can still do something about Patten. Don't wait. And we have made it clear we will not prop up any institutions of this Agreement."

Trimble resignation pledge

Mr Trimble pledged to the Ulster Unionist Council that if they supported him in forming the executive with Sinn Fein in December, he and his ministerial colleagues would resign from it, if IRA decommissioning had not started by the end of January.

The Council is due to meet on 12 February to review whether IRA arms decommissioning will start.

In response to the statement Ulster Unionist chief whip Jim Wilson said his party would not take any lectures from the DUP.

Mr Wilson said: "If the DUP has an ounce of political integrity on the basis of its statement today they should resign from the Assembly immediately. If they won't resign then they should shut up."

Executive 'doomed'

However, earlier on Thursday the Ulster Unionist deputy leader John Taylor said he believed the Executive would crumble next month.

He said he did not believe there would be IRA decommissioning and predicted a return to direct rule within weeks.

In an interview with BBC Radio Ulster, Mr Taylor also said the prospects for decommissioning were "absolutely minimal".

He said: "The only advantage for Ulster Unionists will be that it will be a better type of direct rule than we had a year ago.

"A year ago we had direct rule, plus Dublin's claim over Northern Ireland, plus the Anglo-Irish agreement.

"Come the 13th of February, we are going to have direct rule with the abolition of Dublin's claim over Northern Ireland and with the abolition of the Anglo-Irish agreement."

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness has appealed for unionists who support the Good Friday Agreement not to do anything that would jeopardise the Northern Ireland Executive.

He said it was their responsibility to make sure that the political process continues.

Mr McGuinness said: "David Trimble has to keep his nerve, the Ulster Unionist party, at least those members who support the Good Friday Agreement have to keep their nerve.

"They should not allow themselves to be railroaded by the rejectionist unionists.

"Their job is to keep the political process on track."

The head of the independent body on decommissioning, General John de Chastelain, is expected to give his vital assessment on illegal arms before the end of January.