A week before the referendum on the Good Friday Agreement, the United Unionists group oppose the deal.
The Reverend Ian Paisley of the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) was among the first to sign a document outside Belfast City Hall, a strategy reminiscent of Edward Carson's Ulster Covenant which gathered support against the British government’s Home Rule Bill in 1912.
Not all members of the city council are in agreement however, with former Lord Mayor Hugh Smyth from the PUP (Progressive Unionist Party) making his opinion known at the launch.
Robert McCartney of the UKUP (United Kingdom Unionist Party) claims that Unionists against the Belfast Agreement will come out in force to vote against it.
They will say overwhelmingly on the 22nd – No.
Unionists in favour of the agreement remain unworried by the latest opinion polls. At a press conference David Trimble of the UUP (Ulster Unionist Party) told reporters that there is still a large number of undecided voters.
People have to think the matter through...people have to vote on the real issues.
Many former sporting stars have voiced their support for the agreement, world boxing champion Barry McGuigan, and Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pat Jennings and rugby greats Nigel Carr and David Irwin.
With only seven days left before the referendum pace is picking up on the Yes and No sides of the campaign, with both aware that,
A week can still be a long time in politics.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 15 May 1998. The reporter is Brendan Wright.
