The Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, has issued a strong-worded warning that his party would not stand idly by if the Provisional IRA failed to decommission its arms.
Addressing a party meeting in Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, Mr Trimble said if the IRA did not deliver on its promise made in May to "put its weapons completely and verifiably out of use" the UUP would have to undertake a "measured and proportionate" response to match the republican movement's failure to honour its commitment.
The UUP leader also called on the two governments and the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning to be "more assertive and proactive" in demanding republican disarmament. The IRA had no excuse for not beginning the process of putting arms beyond use since devolution had been restored in May, he added.
Mr Trimble is under pressure from the anti-Belfast Agreement faction in his party who will demand at the Ulster Unionist Council meeting in 10 days' time that the UUP leaves the power-sharing Executive if there is no progress on the arms issue.