The UK Unionist leader, Mr Bob McCartney, last night called for a united unionist campaign against the talks process which he claimed was leading towards Irish unity. He said that unionists must use "all means which may be found necessary" to defend the Union.
Mr McCartney was speaking at a mass rally in the Ulster Hall attended by rank-and-file unionists opposed to the Stormont negotiations. "I believe we should stand by one another in defending for ourselves and our children, our cherished position of equal citizenship in the UK, and in using all means which may be found necessary to defeat the present conspiracy to create a united Ireland against the wishes of the pro-Union people," he said.
The Ulster Hall was packed to capacity for the meeting which was also addressed by the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley. Around 1,500 people attended. The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, had declined an invitation to attend.
Mr McCartney said that the talks process was designed to gradually lead to Irish unity and he urged the UUP to immediately withdraw from negotiations. "Only one thing may stop the government - an overwhelming public demonstration of pro-Union opposition," he said. "We require organisation, central administration, financial resources. . ."
A collection was carried out with plastic buckets during the interval.
Dr Paisley said that by sitting down with Sinn Fein, the UUP was guilty of the destruction of the Union. "Those who elected these politicians must not allow that to happen. If they do it will be the end of the Union, a betrayal of those who fought and died for Ulster's freedom," he said.