The new First Minister, Mr David Trimble, has called on Democratic Unionists to participate fully in Northern Ireland's political institutions in a speech within hours of his re-election.
Acknowledging inclusive government in Northern Ireland had been constructed "in a novel way", Mr Trimble told the Ireland Fund of Great Britain's annual lunch in London there was "one, huge serious flaw" in the arrangements because the Democratic Unionists operated "at arms length". However, Mr Trimble conceded the DUP reflected a significant segment of opinion in Northern Ireland "that doesn't feel included and these represent nearly half of unionists".
"With the events of the last few months, in particular the beginning of decommissioning and the restored institutions in Northern Ireland, Mr Trimble hoped the new administration would last until May, 2003. I hope the new institutions will now bed in and run the administration to the end of its term in May 2003."