The unionist community has committed political suicide by not accepting The Way Forward proposals, according to Mr David Ervine of the Progressive Unionist Party. Mr Ervine said the consequence of the collapse of the short-lived executive containing SDLP and Sinn Fein ministers would be severe "and I haven't even mentioned the potential for violence".
He said the reason for the current crisis in the peace process was the "narrow and base" battle within unionism over the IRA arms issue. "The issue of decommissioning was never an issue between unionists and nationalists, it was an issue between unionism. A battle within unionism for the hearts and minds of taking people absolutely nowhere."
People who claim to be grand democrats had effectively sneered at the "substantial and serious majority" who had voted in favour of the Belfast Agreement.
Mr Ervine warned that an "Anglo-Irish Agreement - Mark 2" would further pollute and alienate the difficulties that already exist in Northern Ireland."
"I appeal to Tony Blair that that is the wrong way to go that somehow, some way, the people of Northern Ireland have to find a way to live together and share this earth. We have to find a way to acknowledge the pain and suffering and tragedy that has happened to us all."
The leader of the Alliance Party, Mr Sean Neeson, said the people of Northern Ireland had been betrayed by the actions of the UUP.
"This is a very dark day for democracy and political stability. The 72 per cent of the people of Northern Ireland who voted for a better future have had their hopes dashed by the refusal of the UUP to appoint ministers." "The Ulster Unionists have made an act of monumental and historic folly," he added.
He said he felt "betrayed" by the UUP and could not comprehend why they could opt for the Hillsborough declaration but not The Way Forward proposals which contained "stronger commitments" by Sinn Fein on the decommissioning issue.
However, Mr Neeson insisted that the Belfast Agreement was not dead but "alive and kicking".
The deputy Alliance leader, Mr Seamus Close, accused the UUP of "nothing short of an act of treachery".
Ms Monica McWilliams of the Women's Coalition paid tribute to and said she hoped he would "not give up".
Ms McWilliams castigated the Ulster Unionist Party for not attending the sitting of the Assembly. "I am a very sad person, as are many others in Northern Ireland today, because we have come here and what we have seen is a determination by some who have not even shown us the courtesy to give us their views."
She was also critical of the UUP for only considering The Way Forward proposals and ensuing legislation for 15 minutes on Wednesday night. "It struck me that it took a minute for every month it has taken us to implement the Good Friday agreement."