DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has arrived for a key meeting with party members over UK government proposals aimed at ending Stormont's power-sharing impasse.
Mr Donaldson was driven into the Larchfield estate shortly before 7.20pm for the short-notice gathering of the DUP's 130-strong executive.
Around 30 protesters were assembled at the gates of the venue, some of whom were carrying posters warning against a DUP "sellout".
The party has been using a veto power to block Stormont's devolved institutions for two years in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements which have created trade barriers between Britain and Northern Ireland.
It has been involved in protracted talks with the government aimed at securing concessions on the arrangements that would address its concerns around trade and sovereignty.
The DUP appears to be approaching a final call on the government's proposed measures.
Before the executive meeting, the DUP leader was at the party's headquarters at Dundela House in Belfast, where a number of his MPs and peers were in attendance.
He declined to comment to waiting reporters as he left to head to the Larchfield estate.
Earlier in the day, he met party MLAs at Stormont.
If Mr Donaldson presses for acceptance of the government's proposals and a Stormont return, he is expected to face stiff opposition from some unionists inside and outside his party.
They believe the boycott should only end once all economic barriers created by Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol, and the subsequent Windsor Framework, are removed.
While the deal being offered by the government will seek to reduce red tape and offer additional measures aimed at strengthening ties between Britain and Northern Ireland, they will not result in the axing of the EU and the UK's jointly agreed protocol and framework.
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Last week, in an impassioned speech at Westminster, Mr Donaldson said he had received threats amid the speculation over an impending deal. The DUP has reported the incidents to the police.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he hoped to see the return of the power-sharing institutions, but added that he wanted to give the DUP space to hold the meeting and reach a decision.
He said: "I respect the fact that they are meeting and having internal discussions; they've had discussions with UK government on an ongoing basis for the last number of months and so we all know what's involved and we all know the details here.
"So it's really a matter for the DUP to meet. I want to give them the space now to have their meeting."
DUP former Stormont speaker William Hay said this evening's meeting is to "update grassroot members by the party leader of where we're at with the talks with the government".
Read more:
Defining moment for Donaldson on DUP's possible Stormont return
He criticised unionists who he said were briefing against the party.
He told the BBC: "The real traitors within unionism are people who continually brief against the party, even within the party, and all they're doing is damaging unionism for now and the future."
Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy accused the DUP of "internal party navel-gazing" while public services in Northern Ireland have been facing "enormous challenges" during the time the power-sharing institutions have been suspended.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said she refuses to fall into "despondency or despair" when it comes to the restoration of the Stormont Executive.
Speaking on RTÉ's News At One, she added: "Although I am very conscious that we have been down this road before."
She said the DUP needs to get on side and get back into government.
"Their negotiations with the British government are over as we all know. People have been patient, people have been very patient.
"The time for action was long passed, so they need to make their decisions clear," she said.
Ms McDonald said that if it is a case that the DUP continues to delay and "leave us in this limbo", it is then and now time for the two governments to step in and a plan B will be needed.
