Talks aimed at healing deep divisions within Mr David Trimble's Ulster UnionistParty were suspended today after rival factions prepared for another showdown. With another critical meeting of the party's ruling council expected to takeplace early next month, senior members decided to call a halt to any furtherinternal discussions.
Sir Reg Empey and Mr Jim Rodgers pulled the plug on talks after learning arequisition order had been given to party officers requesting a meeting of the900-member council to discuss disciplinary action against three MPs.
Both men said: "As people are aware, we decided in early July to hold aseries of meetings with leading party members with a view to finding a consensuson the way ahead for the party as we approach a possible autumn election.
"We were coming to the end of that process and were at the stage ofconcluding our meetings and assessing what, if any, recommendations we mightmake to the party officers when news of the proposed meeting of the UUCreached.
"We are in no doubt that the only way that the Ulster Unionist Party canresolve its difficulties is by members talking and working towards agreement.
"This was true in July, is true today and will be true after any UUC meeting.There is no other way."
Sir Reg, a former Stormont Economy Minister, and Mr Rodgers, an honorarysecretary of the party, said talks would not take place until either therequisition was dealt with or a council meeting had taken place.
Ulster Unionists have been bitterly divided over Irish and British governmentplans for implementing the Belfast Agreement.
Rebel MPs Jeffrey Donaldson, the Rev Martin Smyth and David Burnside resignedthe party whip at Westminster in June over the UUC's failure to completelyreject Dublin and London's joint declaration.
In July, a High Court judge in Belfast ruled attempts by Mr Trimble and hissupporters to suspend the three MPs were invalid because they broke partyrules.
A second bid to discipline the MPs has since been launched.The disciplinary moves have unnerved several UUP members and created doubtsabout Mr David Trimble's leadership. Some UUP members fear the party could befacing into electoral meltdown if it goes into a possible autumn Assemblyelection deeply divided.
PA