DUP aiming to end power tensions

Ian Paisley has said he will accept the first minister's job

The DUP will hold a strategy meeting outside Belfast this week aimed at tackling tensions in the party, DUP sources have told the BBC.

It follows friction over when leader Ian Paisley will become first minister.

Despite the DUP's insistence that the party is united, sources have said there are tensions.

They said these are over the implementation of the St Andrew's Agreement and exactly when power-sharing should take place.

The meeting of assembly members, MPs, peers and the party's MEP follows a disagreement last Friday - when 12 DUP assembly members signed a statement insisting the government must not interpret comments by Mr Paisley in the assembly as a nomination for first minister.

The statement was contradicted by Mr Paisley soon after.

BBC Northern Ireland political correspondent Martina Purdy said the DUP leader issued his own statement - indicating his willingness to accept the post, subject to delivery on policing by republicans.

"Sources say the meeting will deal with the forthcoming election - and in part attempt to find a common position on power-sharing with Sinn Fein that everyone can sign up to," she said.

"There is concern by some members that the DUP leadership is moving too quickly and the time-frame of next March does not allow enough time to test republican intentions.

"The sources say they are responding to the depth of feeling among grassroots DUP members who are deeply unhappy about aspects of the St Andrew's Agreement."

On Friday, DUP leader Ian Paisley said that if all his conditions were fulfilled he would accept the first minister's post after a spring election.

Sinn Fein nominated Martin McGuinness as deputy first minister.