Two-thirds of Ulster Unionists believe Mr David Trimble should re-enter the Northern Ireland Executive with Sinn Fein, according to a survey published yesterday.
The poll for BBC Northern Ireland found 60 per cent of Ulster Unionists thought the move did not deal conclusively with the weapons issue, but 66.1 per cent would risk a return to Stormont anyway.
A slender majority of all unionists, 50.1 per cent, wanted devolution restored on May 22nd, but nationalist backing for the peace plan was an overwhelming 96.8 per cent. However, nearly a quarter of republicans thought the Provisional IRA's pledge to start putting weapons beyond use amounted to surrender.
The survey of more than 1,300 people showed that for the first time, most people in the North - 53.3 per cent - believe the paramilitary campaign is over for good following the Provisional IRA's offer on weapons.
The former SDLP Stormont minister, Mr Sean Farren, described the poll as encouraging and said there would be even more support for forming a new Executive once the international arms inspectors arrived.
However, the former DUP Stormont minister, Mr Peter Robinson, dismissed the survey as a ploy to help Mr Trimble get the British and Irish governments' plan for reactivating the Executive through the Ulster Unionist Council.
"Every time David Trimble is required to get a vote through the UUC you can be sure of three things. There will be an opinion poll; the business leaders will come out to tell us how wonderful things will be; and then the church leaders will get in on the act as well," he said.
Ms Bernadette Sands McKevitt of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement said it was "highly significant" that a quarter of republicans voiced criticism of the Provisional IRA arms offer.
"Opinion polls traditionally underestimate militant republican positions, so it is very significant that a quarter of republicans said this, and I believe in reality the opposition is much higher."
The Sinn Fein vice-president, Mr Pat Doherty, said he understood the feelings of those republicans who voiced doubts in the survey. The BBC poll indicated that Mr John Hume was the most popular party leader among nationalists and the electorate overall. Mr Seamus Mallon was regarded as the best performer among the former Stormont ministers.