Electioneering moved up a gear yesterday with the launch of the DUP campaign, the airing of the SDLP's election broadcast and a chorus of calls on all sides for the Assembly poll to be held on May 29th, writes Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor
The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, said last night the British government had a duty to the electorate to explain how the Stormont Assembly would function after the election.
He also appealed for the moderate vote to make its presence felt - otherwise, a "nightmare scenario" could evolve.
"An election to nothing, because of its tendency to reinforce apathy, could reinforce the potential negative consequences of this election," said Mr Trimble.
"There are problems, but the transition so far has been managed by the moderate parties, moderate unionist and moderate nationalist parties, and we've managed with difficulty to take this society through a difficult time without any disasters occurring.
"If we find that the political future is in the hands of extremes on both sides then there will be a nightmare scenario for people in terms of how this transition is managed, and that could be hugely significant."
However, he added: "I don't think it's going to happen because I think that people may be slightly fed up with the election but when they think through the potential consequences, they will appreciate the need for the moderates to vote."
Mr Trimble laughed off comments made earlier yesterday at the launch of the DUP campaign by Mr Peter Robinson.
Promising a "shock and awe" campaign, the DUP deputy leader said: "As with the coalition forces, the objective is the same - regime change within unionism."
"I thought that was quite funny," Mr Trimble said. "It brings back to mind the Iraqi Information Minister, Comical Ali.
"There are two ways in which Peter closely resembles Comical Ali. First, a very slight tendency towards exaggeration, and secondly, a penchant for berets" - a reference to the Ulster Resistance movement with which DUP members were linked.
Mr Trimble returned to the question of the IRA's intentions and attempts by Mr Gerry Adams to clarify the IRA position for Mr Tony Blair.
Referring to the answers to Mr Blair's three questions last week, Mr Trimble added: "One of the questions should have been just simply, 'On the basis of the agreement, isn't your war over?'"
Sinn Féin was keen yesterday to dispel claims that republicans spoke with two voices on the question of the continuation of its "struggle".
At a Sinn Féin rally in Derry on Monday night, veteran republican Mr Brian Keenan said the struggle was far from over.
Yesterday, the party chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, said these remarks in no way contradicted statements that republicans sought a peaceful future.
"[Brian Keenan] said that the IRA's intention was to end this conflict and to do away with all the guns in Irish society," he said.
At a preview of the SDLP election broadcast, party leader Mr Mark Durkan accused other parties of taking an à la carte approach to the Belfast Agreement. He criticised the British government's stance on the election date as fostering "nonsensical uncertainty", and accused the other parties of picking and choosing their favourite aspects of the agreement.
"David Trimble has the approach of trying to star in his own stand-up and Gerry Adams is happy to be taking the part of best supporting actor. I want to be part of making the full movie of the agreement," he said.