The Ulster Unionist Party would have rejected Dublin and London's Joint Declaration for future progress in the peace process, it was claimed today.
Hardline Ulster Unionist MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson today described the Joint Declaration as a "Sinn Fein charter" and said there was no way the party's ruling executive would back the document.
"You read through the declaration and it's concession after concession to the republican movement," he said. "There is absolutely no way that the Ulster Unionist Council will endorse this joint declaration. It's a non-starter from a unionist perspective".
The Declaration was released yesterday after the British Prime Minister decided to delay the poll scheduled for May 29th until at least the autumn because of a perceived lack of clarity from the IRA on its future intentions.
The document confirmed year-by-year plans to scale down security, and transfer policing and justice powers to Stormont, as well as offering an amnesty to fugitive republicans wanted for questioning for paramilitary offences, some going back more than 25 years.
Mr Blair said Mr Trimble was prepared to sign up to a deal if the republican movement had been clearer about its future commitment to purely peaceful means.
But Mr Donaldson claimed today that the document undermined the rule of law.
Sinn Féin leader Mr Gerry Adams urged republicans today to take to the streets of Northern Ireland in protest at the decision to postpone the election.
"What I am calling on people to do on May 29th is to demonstrate our right to vote, our right to choose parties, our right to elect those who we want to represent us," he said.
Mr Adams said sections of the two governments' Joint Declaration should be implemented immediately. "They are as worthless as the Good Friday agreement itself if they remain simply words on paper," he said.
The confidential IRA statement sent to the British and Irish Governments three weeks ago was expected to be released later.
PA