Two DUP councillors in Co Antrim have resigned tonight over the party leader Ian Paisley's decision to enter government with Sinn Féin.
The Mayor of Ballymena, James Alexander, and his party colleague, Robin Stirling, told a council meeting that they were leaving the party tonight.
They join Roy Gillespie, Sam Gaston and David Tweed who earlier announced their departure from the DUP.
Earlier, the four main parties in Northern Ireland agreed their choice of the ten ministries in the power-sharing Executive during a meeting between party leaders at Stormont.
Sinn Féin will the run the Departments of Agriculture, Education and Regional Development when the new government gets under way in five weeks’ time.
The DUP is to get the portfolios of Finance, Environment, Culture and Enterprise. The Ulster Unionists will take Health and Higher Education. The SDLP’s sole ministry will be Social Development.
The ministries will be confirmed when the Assembly meets on 8 May.
Sinn Féin has announced its nominees for ministers for the executive as Gerry Kelly, Conor Murphy, Michelle Gildernew and Catriona Ruane.
Paisley to meet Ahern in Dublin
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has confirmed he is to meet Ian Paisley in Dublin on Wednesday.
Mr Ahern said it would be an opportunity to set out a programme between now and 8 May and an opportunity to discuss financial matters, infrastructure, ongoing co-operation and other outstanding issues.
He also said it would be the first time in a number of years for such issues to be discussed and described the meeting as 'very significant'.
It is understood Ian Paisley Jnr and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, will also attend the meeting.
