A special meeting of the Ulster Unionist Party's ruling council has been called to discuss the Irish and British governments' joint declaration on the future of the peace process, it emerged tonight.
The 60 signatures required to call a meeting were submitted to party president Rev Martin Smyth this evening amid concerns about the future of the Royal Irish Regiment.
The meeting of the 900-strong ruling council has been called at the behest of grass roots members of the party, while a separate gathering of the 108 members of the party's executive has been arranged by the leadership.
Both meetings were called in the wake of speculation that the three battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment based in Northern Ireland could be disbanded as part of government moves to demilitarisation.
Anti-agreement MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson said grass roots members of the party were sickened by possible moves to disband the three units in the two governments' joint declaration.
"There has been growing concern within the party about the joint declaration for some time and the announcement that the Royal Irish Regiment home battalions may be disbanded is the final straw for many people," the Lagan Valley MP said.
"These issues are of such concern that they need to be discussed at a special meeting of the party council.
"I will be urging delegates to reject the joint declaration because that's the only way to stop the disbandment of the Royal Irish Regiment."
No date has been set yet for that meeting, but it is understood party regulations state it must be held within weeks of the signatures being submitted.
Meanwhile, party chairman Mr James Cooper called the emergency meeting of the party's 108-strong Executive over the issue.
The executive consists of only senior party members from associations across the North, as opposed to the rank-and-file members contained in the council.
This meeting, scheduled for Friday June 6th, will consider a proposal from the party leader, Mr David Trimble, on what action to take.
"The leader will propose a resolution at the meeting to take the appropriate action to deal with this serious and vital issue," Mr Cooper said.
"Mr Trimble has already made it clear that he will not lift a finger on the joint declaration until such time as the uncertainty surrounding the Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment is lifted and assurances are forthcoming."
The Ulster Unionist leader earlier said he was assured during talks at Hillsborough Castle that the 3,000-plus members of the regiment based in Northern Ireland would be retained.
PA