Ahern says leadership a matter for UUP

The Taoiseach has said the leadership challenge facing the Ulster Unionist Party leader, David Trimble, is totally a matter for the party.

Mr Ahern also said he thought Mr Trimble's leadership had been strengthened by the defections from his party.

Mr Trimble earlier indicated he will not be standing aside after a fellow party MP called on him to resign as leader.

In a statement this afternoon, a spokesperson said 'The Party's Constitution provides for the election of the party leader every year at the Annual General meeting.'

Consequently, the statement went on, Mr Trimble considers it his duty to offer himself to the party again at the forthcoming AGM.

South Antrim MP David Burnside earlier called for him to step down as leader.

Mr Burnside has long been a fierce critic of David Trimble's style of leadership and the way in which he dealt with Sinn Féin. He said he believed Mr Trimble had lost the confidence and trust of the majority of the UUP membership.

Mr Burnside said party members now want a leadership which could unite the party and restore its position of dominance within unionism.

In a statement, Mr Burnside said there was a 'sea change' among party members, and it was almost inconceivable that Mr Trimble would consider submitting his name to continue leading the party.

Mr Burnside's resignation call is the latest blow to hit David Trimble in recent months following his party's poor showing in the Assembly elections and the subsequent defection of Jeffrey Donaldson and two others MLAs to Ian Paisley's DUP.

This announcement has triggered speculation that Mr Trimble will face a leadership challenge at the AGM of the party's ruling council at the end of next month.

The early favourite to replace Mr Trimble is Sir Reg Empey. David Burnside says he is not interested in running for the leadership.