Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble faced fresh demands today for him to resign from a branch of the party.
The Knock, Ballyhackamore and Bloomfield branch of the East Belfast Ulster Unionist Association supported a motion last night calling on Mr Trimble to stand down following Monday's confrontation between him and his internal critics in the Assembly party.
The branch has two Ulster Unionist Party officers in its ranks - vice-president Sir Reg Empey and honorary secretary Mr Jim Rodgers.
Sir Reg, a former Stormont economy minister, has been under pressure in recent weeks to challenge Mr Trimble for the leadership.
It is understand neither he nor Mr Rodgers was at last night's meeting.
But a source in the branch said: "Following the vote of the Assembly group on Monday, the branch took a decision that David Trimble cannot unite the Ulster Unionist council under his leadership and have requested him to stand down.
"It would be in the best interests of unionism and the party if the council were under new management."
Sources close to Sir Reg said they did not believe the East Belfast MLA would stand against Mr Trimble in a head-to-head contest for the leadership when the council meets on March 27th. However, they believed he would bid for the leadership if Mr Trimble decided to quit.