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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| DUP meeting to ensure party unity | DUP meeting to ensure party unity |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The DUP leadership is holding a top-level strategy meeting following discontent in the ranks about aspects of the St Andrews Agreement. | |
| The meeting, which is being held outside Templepatrick, in County Antrim, is expected to last all day. | The meeting, which is being held outside Templepatrick, in County Antrim, is expected to last all day. |
| Speaking before the meeting, assembly member Ian Paisley jnr said the party should not "beat up on themselves". | Speaking before the meeting, assembly member Ian Paisley jnr said the party should not "beat up on themselves". |
| He said they should stay focused and remember that the "real enemy are republicans". | He said they should stay focused and remember that the "real enemy are republicans". |
| The meeting is being attended by MP's assembly members peers and party officers. Sources have told the BBC it is to ensure party unity. | The meeting is being attended by MP's assembly members peers and party officers. Sources have told the BBC it is to ensure party unity. |
| It is the first chance senior party members have had to discuss the internal tensions which surfaced last Friday at the assembly when the DUP and Sinn Fein were asked for nominations to the first and deputy first minister posts. | It is the first chance senior party members have had to discuss the internal tensions which surfaced last Friday at the assembly when the DUP and Sinn Fein were asked for nominations to the first and deputy first minister posts. |
| After the meeting, 12 DUP members signed a statement saying they had not taken part in a designation process. | After the meeting, 12 DUP members signed a statement saying they had not taken part in a designation process. |
| It insisted that the government must not take Mr Paisley's remarks in the chamber as a nomination to become first minister. | It insisted that the government must not take Mr Paisley's remarks in the chamber as a nomination to become first minister. |
| Meeting bishops | Meeting bishops |
| The statement was signed by MPs Nigel Dodds, William McCrea, Gregory Campbell and David Simpson. | The statement was signed by MPs Nigel Dodds, William McCrea, Gregory Campbell and David Simpson. |
| It read: "Given the total lack of movement on behalf of Sinn Fein on the issue of support for the rule of law, the courts and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, nothing that we have said or done today can be taken by the government as an indication that they can imply shadow, designate or any other status to anyone in relation to the office of first and deputy first minister." | It read: "Given the total lack of movement on behalf of Sinn Fein on the issue of support for the rule of law, the courts and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, nothing that we have said or done today can be taken by the government as an indication that they can imply shadow, designate or any other status to anyone in relation to the office of first and deputy first minister." |
| It was also signed by Lord Morrow and his fellow assembly members Diane Dodds, Paul Girvan, Stephen Moutray, Nelson McCausland, Mervyn Storey, Tom Buchanan and assembly deputy speaker Jim Wells. It has since emerged that the signed statement has caused some ructions within the party. | It was also signed by Lord Morrow and his fellow assembly members Diane Dodds, Paul Girvan, Stephen Moutray, Nelson McCausland, Mervyn Storey, Tom Buchanan and assembly deputy speaker Jim Wells. It has since emerged that the signed statement has caused some ructions within the party. |
| Soon after its release, Mr Paisley released his own statement confirming he would accept the first minister's post after a spring election if all his conditions were fulfilled. | Soon after its release, Mr Paisley released his own statement confirming he would accept the first minister's post after a spring election if all his conditions were fulfilled. |
| He also denied that the statement was an indication of a split within his party. | He also denied that the statement was an indication of a split within his party. |
| BBC political correspondent Martina Purdy said: "Officially Friday's meeting is about political and election strategy, but it is doubtless also about finding a common position on power-sharing with Sinn Fein to ensure party unity. | BBC political correspondent Martina Purdy said: "Officially Friday's meeting is about political and election strategy, but it is doubtless also about finding a common position on power-sharing with Sinn Fein to ensure party unity. |
| "Some DUP sources say the friction is over the timing of power sharing and how long Sinn Fein should be tested on policing and other issues." | "Some DUP sources say the friction is over the timing of power sharing and how long Sinn Fein should be tested on policing and other issues." |
| Before the meeting begins the party leadership will also meet a group of bishops from the Church of Ireland. | Before the meeting begins the party leadership will also meet a group of bishops from the Church of Ireland. |