N.Ireland: Ulster Unionists call key meeting

David Trimble faces problems from within his own party

BELFAST, Northern Ireland -- The Ulster Unionist party has announced plans for a special conference to discuss whether to remain within the Northern Ireland power-sharing government.

The move comes in the face of concern over apparent lack of progress in the decommissioning of weapons by the Irish Republican Army (IRA).

Some members of the Ulster Unionists -- the main Protestant party in Northern Ireland -- want the party to withdraw from the joint Protestant-Catholic administration.

ALSO In Depth: Conflict and hope in Northern Ireland

After a meeting at party headquarters on Friday, Ulster Unionists announced that they would debate the issue on October 28.

The development came as a suspected IRA dissident was shot dead in Catholic west Belfast, the first such killing there in more than two years.

Joseph "Jo-Jo" O'Connor, 26, was shot at least five times after two hooded men walked up to the parked car in which he was sitting in Ballymurphy. No group claimed immediate responsibility.

Police said O'Connor was believed to have been a member of the Real IRA, the leading splinter group trying to undermine the IRA's 1997 cease-fire.

Meanwhile, police said they had arrested several people on Belfast's outskirts -- again, suspected IRA dissidents -- in possession of a grenade-launcher and ammunition.

The Ulster Unionist meeting in central Belfast debated for three hours behind closed doors over when to call a special convention of their ruling 860-member council.

If opponents of the Good Friday peace accord succeed in persuading the council to withdraw from the joint administration, it would place pressure on party leader David Trimble, first minister of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The Ulster Unionists agreed last November to form a four-party coalition government that included members of Sinn Fein, the republican political party. That step -- a key goal of 1998's Good Friday accord -- was taken in expectation the IRA would gradually disarm as part of the deal.

The assembly was suspended in February when there was no progress on decommissioning, but in May, after the IRA issued a long-sought promise to disarm, Trimble once again overcame substantial internal opposition to resume government alongside Sinn Fein.

The IRA did permit international inspectors to visit three arms dumps in June, but not to take away weapons for destruction.

And Ulster Unionists say the group has not delivered on a May pledge to put all of its tons of weaponry "verifiably and completely beyond use," a process supposed to include destruction of at least some of the stockpile.

Fearing the ousting of Trimble, the British and Irish governments recently have pressed for a second inspection of arms dumps.

There is also concern within the Ulster Unionists over plans for the reform of the mainly Protestant Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), Northern Ireland's police force.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Leaders renew N. Ireland peace efforts
October 10, 2000
Barriers threatening to wreck N. Ireland peace process
October 10, 2000
RUC facing radical reform
August 22, 2000
Security forces brace for Protestant attack in N. Ireland
July 8, 2000
Car bomb explodes as Northern Ireland braces for Protestant march
July 9, 2000

Northern Ireland Office
Ulster Unionist Party
Sinn Fein
Northern Ireland Assembly

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.