Trimble calls crucial party meeting

Trimble still to decide whether to put deal to his party

A special meeting of the Ulster Unionist Party's ruling council has been called to consider a return to power-sharing government with republicans.

It will be held on 20 May, just two days before the British and Irish governments' target date for a restoration of the Stormont assembly.

However, UUP leader David Trimble said he was still seeking further clarification of the IRA's statement about putting its weapons "beyond use".

He also said he had still not decided what recommendation to put to the 850-member party council.

"The calling of this meeting does not mean we have committed ourselves to endorsing any set of proposals," he said.

'Separate issues'

Speaking to reporters after meeting his party officers, Mr Trimble indicated that he would use the next week to try to gain clarification on the IRA statement and also assurances from the government on "quite separate issues".

The Ulster Unionist Party's opposition to the government decision to change the title of the Royal Ulster Constabulary under the agreement, and new concern about whether Union flags would continue to be flown on government buildings, may combine with fears that the IRA statement does not go far enough to prevent him recommending a return to government.

Gerry Adams: Initiative could be undermined

"There are, of course, other issues quite separate from decommissioning which we have been pursuing with the government and which we continue pursue with the government," Mr Trimble said.

But the Ulster Unionist leader indicated that he would prefer to "bring the matter to a head and then have a clear decision on where we are going" rather than trying to buy more time.

This course of action could be risky to his position as leader, but would reduce the chance that the impetuous produced by the IRA statement and the British and Irish governments' proposals to fully implement the agreement by June 2001, would have time to leach away.

Adams warning on 'concessions'

However, reacting to Mr Trimble's comments, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams issued a warning to unionists not to try to introduce more pre-conditions into the peace process, now there had been movement on disarmament.

Martin McGuinness told of death threat from unknown paramilitaries

Speaking to reporters, he would not say whether the IRA's statement would be withdrawn if there was no progress in restoring the political institutions, although the IRA said that its offer had been made in the context of the full implementation of the agreement.

But in a message to the British government Mr Adams said: "We simply raise as a note of caution, the fact that concessions to unionists on the RUC or on Patten or any other touchstone issue could entirely undermine the initiative."

During the news conference Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness said that he had been informed by the police on Friday of a threat to his life.

He said it had been made by a previously unknown organisation through a local newspaper.

Michael McGimpsey: IRA statement has real potential

Northern Ireland's political institutions were suspended by the government in February during an impasse between the Ulster Unionists and Sinn Fein over the IRA's refusal to start disarmament and continued power-sharing.

Earlier on Friday leading Ulster Unionist Michael McGimpsey said the peace process could be on the brink of success despite difficulties in on-going talks over the policing issue.

There were three issues within the IRA statement, which he and his colleagues were examining, he said.

These were the promise of using peaceful means to secure political objectives, to re-engage with General De Chastelain's weapons body and the offer of inspections of IRA arms dumps as a confidence building measure.

Flag dispute move

But hardline Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson expressed concern about a "further divisive meeting" of the party's ruling council.

He said the fact that the leadership were still seeking clarification on the IRA statement indicated they did not have the clarity and certainty they required to re-enter government with Sinn Fein.

Meanwhile the government is expected to move to reassure unionists on the flags issue.

It is believed an Order in Council may be put before the Commons giving the Northern Ireland Secretary the power to make the final decision on any dispute over flag-flying.

Government sources said it would be a reserved power, to be used only if local ministers failed to come to an agreement on the issue in a new devolved government.