A senior member of the Rev Ian Paisley's Free Presbyterian Church warned today that many of his congregation were opposed to the Democratic Unionists entering a power-sharing Stormont administration with Sinn Féin.
The Rev Ivan Foster issued the warning after a Bill designed to restore power sharing next March was passed by the House of Lords last night ahead of a meeting of the transitional Assembly in Stormont tomorrow.
With Dr Paisley and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams expected to indicate at tomorrow's meeting who their choices would be for Stormont first and deputy first minister next March, Rev Foster said many Free Presbyterians were alarmed at the prospect of the DUP and Sinn Féin sharing power.
The Co Fermanagh-based Free Presbyterian minister and former senior DUP Assembly member said: "I would say most Free Presbyterians are deeply, deeply troubled.
"In fact I would say I know of no Free Presbyterian who would welcome seeing Dr Paisley in the position of political coalition with Sinn Féin and particularly with Martin McGuinness," he told BBC Radio Ulster.
Lord Tebbit
The British government expects Dr Paisley to confirm he will be the first minister next March if the St Andrews agreement for devolution is implemented.
It is also expected Mr McGuinness will be Sinn Féin's choice as deputy first minister.
Rev Foster is the first clergyman within Dr Paisley's church to express reservations openly about the DUP pursuing Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's plan for power sharing.
Democratic Unionist MEP Jim Allister broke ranks last month after the St Andrews talks, raising doubts about the plan. Veteran councillor Jack McKee in Larne also publicly expressed reservations.
Emergency legislation to restore power sharing in Northern Ireland by next March was rushed through Britain's House of Lords last night.
But during the Lords' passage former Northern Ireland first minister Lord Trimble raised the spectre of a "deadlocked Assembly" as the DUP and Sinn Féin remained at odds over republican support for policing and the courts.
The former Ulster Unionist leader said there was an agreement between Mr Blair and Mr Ahern but no one else. "The government is proceeding on optimistic assumptions which are not likely to be fulfilled," he cautioned.
Northern Ireland Minister Lord Rooker called for a period of prolonged stability to help the devolution process and insisted problems could be overcome if "everyone delivers on their commitments".
Tory former Cabinet minister Lord Tebbit said: "This Bill is another stage in the relentless march of Sinn Féin-IRA into power in Northern Ireland - power which has been won by bombs and bullets because it couldn't be won by the ballot box alone."