The Ulster Unionist Westminster candidate for Fermanagh/ South Tyrone, Mr James Cooper, has predicted that his party will overwhelm unionist parties opposed to the Belfast Agreement in the election.
"After the general election, and over coming years, we will see a realignment within unionism whereby a lot of the smaller anti-everything parties will be overwhelmed by the UUP.
"There has been a significant shift towards the UUP and polling will confirm what the opinion polls have suggested - that a large number of unionists are returning to support our party as we seek to implement the Good Friday agreement in full."
The DUP East Belfast MP, Mr Peter Robinson, said Mr Trimble's decommissioning policy was a sham. "His party is divided and in a shambles over the issue. It is time for the unionist community to unite behind the DUP." Meanwhile, the Ulster Unionist candidate for North Down, Lady Sylvia Hermon, urged first-time voters to support her.
"Never before has it been so crucial for young people to come out and make their mark on polling day. Over the past 30 years, many of our brightest and most talented school-leavers have left Northern Ireland because they felt they would have better prospects across the water.
"The UUP's aim is to reverse this disturbing trend. By delivering on devolution, economic prosperity and stability, we have given young people a reason to work and live in Northern Ireland."
The Irish Republican Socialist Party, the INLA's political wing, urged supporters to spoil their votes next Thursday. "There are currently a number of political prisoners in British jails. No political party standing in the elections is supporting their right to political status," said Mr Paul Little. "And since the signing of the Good Friday agreement sectarian attacks have increased tenfold."
Mr Little also said none of the parties contesting the election was prepared to support the Turkish hunger-strikers.
The SDLP South Belfast candidate, Dr Alasdair McDonnell, meanwhile, has welcomed a health awareness campaign among men in the North.
"More that 200 men die from prostrate and testicular cancer in the province every year. As a GP, I know only too well that a lot of men can be embarrassed or ignorant of symptoms of diseases," he said.
PA adds:
The Prime Minister, Mr Paul Blair, was warned that he must face down the military establishment after the election if the remaining problems in the Northern Ireland peace process are to be resolved. Mr Blair was warned by Sinn Fein that there must be substantial movement on police reforms and the scaling down of army bases and operations, if post-election talks to break the deadlock were to succeed.