Trimble and Mallon criticise DUP Executive strategy

Northern Ireland's First Minister, David Trimble, and his Deputy Seamus Mallon both criticised the Democratic Unionist Party over the tactics they have adopted towards the Stormont Executive. While in a separate development An Ulster Unionist member of Castlereagh Council has joined the DUP. Deputy Mayor Sarah Cummings said she had decided to take the DUP whip, after a period of reflection and consideration. Ms Cummings said that she could no longer remain in the Ulster Unionist party after what she said were the capitulation's by David Trimble in negotiations.

Last night the DUP announced that their two ministers are to stay in the Executive but will resign if Unionists do not back a motion in the Assembly to exclude Sinn Féin from office. But, Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds would be replaced by a series of other DUP Assembly members to deny their opponents places in cabinet.

Seamus Mallon accused the party of a cynical exercise and playing Russian Roulette with the administration. Mr Trimble said that the only truthful thing about last night's statement was that they were trying to keep Unionists out of government. The Northern Secretary criticised the DUP's move and called on the party's Assembly members to represent the people who had voted for them.

The DUP leader, the Reverend Ian Paisley, outlined the new strategy at a news conference last night and said that the DUP would maintain a vigorous opposition to the Agreement at all levels. In a detailed review of the party's campaign of opposition to the Good Friday Agreement, they plan to enter discussions with like-minded Unionists with a view to forming a more cohesive and lasting anti-Agreement front. They would table a motion seeking to exclude Sinn Féin from office and only if that failed to achieve 60% support among Assembly unionists, would they resign their two Executive seats.

But many feel that such is the disarray within Unionism that the party may well achieve that level of support and that would mean Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds remain in ministerial office. The party maintained last night that no one could claim that their holding office altered by one iota the party's opposition to the Good Friday Agreement or bolstered it in any way.