Trimble repeats resignation threat

Trimble says he will resign within weeks unless the IRA starts to disarm

LONDON, England -- Northern Ireland's First Minister David Trimble has repeated his threat to resign on July 1 over the stalled issue of arms decommissioning.

At the first day of talks in London aimed at breaking the deadlock threatening the Northern Ireland peace process he said his "patience was at an end."

Ulster Unionists and republicans are deadlocked over the issue of Irish Republican Army (IRA) disarmament.

A year ago, as part of a wider deal that resuscitated the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland, the IRA issued an unprecedented proclamation to put its weapons "completely and verifiably beyond use."

Republicans say the IRA has followed the landmark Good Friday peace agreement by putting its weapons beyond use, but unionists argue the arms need to be handed over to the authorities.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern met on Monday in Downing Street with Ulster Unionist Party leader Trimble and later with Gerry Adams, leader of the republican political party, Sinn Fein.

The talks were to try to resolve the issues of IRA disarmament, police reforms, the scaling down of military bases in Northern Ireland and the ban on Sinn Fein ministers attending cross-border body meetings.

But after the talks Gerry Adams gave a downbeat assessment of the parties ability to resolve their differences by July 1.

Criticising the Ulster Unionist leader's "rash and reckless" resignation threat, he said: "For a British government to be seen to bend to threats and ultimatums is entirely counterproductive and wrong.

"All of these issues can be resolved and with goodwill will be resolved."

Trimble said last month: "The IRA promised a year and two days ago that they would put their weapons beyond use. There was no deadline then and they were given a whole year to do something. They haven't done it.

"June of this year was set by the governments last year as being the date for the full implementation of the agreement. Consequently with the focus on the June date, I thought I would make it absolutely clear that the June deadline mattered."

Sinn Fein deputy leader Martin McGuinness, who is education minister in the Northern Ireland assembly, warned Trimble that his resignation would be "disastrous" for the peace process.

McGuinness also predicted that Trimble's announcement would make it "less likely" for the IRA to move on weapons.

The talks are due to continue in Belfast under the chairmanship of Reid and Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowan during the week.