The anti-agreement Ulster Unionist MP, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, has said he does not know if comments by Mr David Trimble about Sinn Fein re-entering the executive without prior decommissioning of weapons by the Provisional IRA represents a "softening" of his leader's political line.
Mr Donaldson said he had not been consulted about the remarks, delivered in Washington. But he would be "absolutely astonished" if his party embraced a policy which allowed Sinn Fein back into government without decommissioning.
He said guarantees from the Provisional IRA and Sinn Fein were no good. "What we need to see is actual decommissioning. The IRA is dragging its feet. It knows what it needs to do."
Mr Donaldson said Mr Trimble would be able to clarify his policy when the Ulster Unionist Council meets next Saturday.
The UUP deputy leader, Mr John Taylor, said that as far as he was aware his party's policy on Sinn Fein re-entering the executive remained unchanged and "will do so until our working group concludes its deliberations".
Mr Gerry Adams's initial response last night was to continue to call on the British government unilaterally to restore the political institutions. He suggested that Mr Trimble's comments may have involved "putting a hard line in a softer light".
The UUP security spokesman, Mr Ken Maginnis, last night insisted that his party was committed to the policy that "illegal organisations and guns are incompatible with democratic government".
He said that only an answer to the question, "Do the IRA intend to disarm and, if so, when?" could establish the basis for Sinn Fein's reentry into the executive.
In what appeared to be a warning shot in Mr Trimble's direction, Mr Maginnis said: "Ulster Unionists have made it absolutely clear they are committed on the point that illegal organisations and guns are incompatible with democratic government.
"That is what we are determined to achieve and there is no scope for change in that position. While it seems unlikely that the so-called republican movement will suddenly have reconciled its position to meet the democratic requirement on this issue, it is still possible, should the IRA present an appropriate scheduled agenda for disarmament, that political progress could, once again, be made."
The DUP secretary, Mr Nigel Dodds, said Mr Trimble had signalled that he would eventually be the political leader who "caved in" on decommissioning.
His comments would "bring enormous comfort" to Sinn Fein and the Provisional IRA.
"Once pressure is applied - in this case from Clinton and his cronies - the Trimble unionists begin to wobble and waver," he said.
Mr Robert McCartney, leader of the anti-agreement UK Unionist Party, said Mr Trimble's remarks proved what "all real unionists already knew - the man has no bottom line".
Mr McCartney said: "This plan to accept a form of words rather than actual decommissioning has already been kited by Trimble supporters in recent days and will doubtless be the subject of intense discussions in the run-up to Easter. "We can only hope that there is still some resolve and courage in the Ulster Unionist Council to oppose such a move."
The SDLP Assembly member for West Belfast, Mr Alex Attwood, said: "As President Clinton once said, everyone has to take risks for peace.
"That will be the will and wish of the people of the island. All proposals should be carefully considered."
However, Mr Gerry Adams's initial response last night was to continue to call on the British government unilaterally to restore the political institutions.