They haven't run away, you know. That much can be said with certainty about the Ulster Unionist Party after yesterday's events at Stormont. The media are still not being admitted to the proceedings so we have to surmise what happened from the inevitably partisan reports of various delegations. It can be a bit like hearing commentaries on a Glasgow soccer derby, first from a Rangers supporter and then a Celtic fan.

But there was a ring of truth in the assessment of one participant who said the proceedings were "a wee bit tense but a bit of an anti-climax".

The Ulster Unionist submission was headed "Notice of Indictment", but as courtroom drama, this came a long way behind Witness for the Prosecution.

Much of the dramatic potential was lost when the chief prosecutor, Ken Maginnis, and his party leader, David Trimble, left after the UUP submission had been read out.

The UUP leaders were obviously aware that the real battleground was not at the plenary session but outside in front of the cameras and microphones. It was essential for them to "get their retaliation in first" because a different construction would be put on the day's happenings by the Democratic Unionist Party.

Mr Trimble appeared to be hinting at a type of "super-proximity" talks where Sinn Fein and the UUP would both be in the building but would never talk to each other.

Alluding to the fact that Sinn Fein's vote was not required under the sufficient consensus rule that underpins the talks, he added: "There is no need for us to engage with Sinn Fein at all."

However, Peter Robinson of the DUP described the engagement as a "sham fight", predicting that "Mr Trimble's hand-to-hand fighting will be transformed into hand-in-hand discussions".

Observers were somewhat taken aback at the aggressive posture adopted by the UUP leaders towards the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam. For example, they said "she had better be careful what she says in case her words turn round and bite her" and that the Labour government was "on trial" as well as Sinn Fein and the IRA.

Small wonder there were reports of a blazing row between Dr Mowlam and Mr Maginnis when they met afterwards. The Northern Secretary was said to have taken grave exception to the UUP remarks. It was even reported that she left the room but this was officially denied. In the end, the row was said to have been patched up.

The two governments are to announce their ruling on Mr Maginnis's indictment today. "The judgment to be reached is whether a party has demonstrably dishonoured its commitment to the Mitchell Principles," Dr Mowlam said.

The general expectation is that Sinn Fein will not be excluded from the talks. If it were, it would have to be explained why this action was not taken prior to the UUP submission yesterday which consisted almost entirely of statements already on the public record.

There would also be massive cynicism among nationalists who believe that the loyalist parties have breached the Mitchell Principles with impunity. Most important of all, the IRA ceasefire would almost certainly come to an end in a very short time if Sinn Fein were thrown out.

As one talks participant put it: "Everyone knows they are not going to be expelled." But the dilemma for the governments is to adjudicate in such terms that they provide some form of cover for the UUP leadership against its critics inside and outside the party.

The disposal of the Sinn Fein indictment will clear the way for the two governments to bring in their procedural motion to bring the talks into their substantive phase.

In the long run, the most significant aspect of yesterday's proceedings may turn out to be the fact that, when Mr Trimble and Mr Maginnis left the room, other members of the UUP delegation remained. Mr Reg Empey also appeared at a later stage.

Sources in the talks said the two governments were trying to get all the parties to agree the terms of the procedural motion to avoid an unseemly wrangle this afternoon. Bilateral and multilateral meetings are expected to take place throughout the morning.

Some of the participants in the talks said all parties were endeavouring to put their stamp on the procedural motion but that the difficulties were "not insurmountable" and the motion would probably go through. But it could be a close-run thing. Irish Government sources were reluctant to speculate because of the delicacy of the situation.

David Trimble is like a man invited to a dinner party who sees his worst enemy sitting across the table but feels he cannot leave for fear of giving offence to the host. He made it clear to reporters that he intends to stay: "We are determined one way or another to remain in the process."