The Ulster Unionist Party today opened nominations for its candidate for nextyear's European Parliament elections in Northern Ireland.
The party's MEP, Jim Nicholson, has confirmed that he will again seek the UUPnomination, according to an advert placed in a Belfast newspaper.
Mr Nicholson narrowly held off Sinn Fein's Mitchell McLaughlin in 1999 at thelast European Parliament election.
He polled 119,507 first preference votes in the proportional representationcontest in the three-seat Northern Ireland constituency.
Sinn Féin recently chose former Stormont health minister Bairbre de Brun asits candidate.
Former SDLP leader John Hume has also confirmed that he will seek re-electionand the Democratic Unionist Party has indicated that its leader, the Rev IanPaisley, will also bid to maintain his record of topping the poll at everyEuropean election.
The advert in today's Belfast Telegraph has called on Ulster Unionist memberswho wish to challenge Mr Nicholson to return their nomination papers bySeptember 30.
Two of the three European Parliament seats have traditionally gone to the DUPand the UUP.
Sinn Féin believes there is a possibility that nationalists could win twoseats this time around.
PA