Unionist woes 'will help enemies'

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The DUP leader Ian Paisley says public divisions amongst unionists can only provide succour to his party's enemies.

In a speech to DUP supporters in County Antrim, Mr Paisley urged unionists not to be misguided or detoured.

Last night in Portadown, UK Unionist leader Bob McCartney accused the DUP of betraying and blackmailing the unionist people over the St Andrews Agreement.

But Mr Paisley insisted he was not about to betray the trust placed in him over the past four decades.

The deadline for devolution is 26 March, with fresh assembly elections set for 7 March.

Mr Paisley pledged that nothing would happen in terms of a new government unless republicans deliver satisfactorily on real support for the police, giving up the gun and ending all criminal and paramilitary activity.

United parties win elections - divided ones do not Ian PaisleyDUP leader <a href="/1/hi/northern_ireland/6162581.stm" class="">Murmurs of Paisley 'betrayal'</a> "If we are all over the place, trying to pick holes in our own position then the electorate will stay at home and punish unionism," he said.

"The only victors in that scenario will be republicans."

In a reference to the DUP's internal tensions over the St Andrews Agreement, Mr Paisley said that for a party to succeed it was "imperative to stay on message and stay united".

He told his supporters at the meeting in Kells: "United parties win elections - divided ones do not."

In a separate speech, DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said his party would field its greatest ever number of candidates in this spring's Assembly elections.

On Thursday night, UK Unionist leader Robert McCartney addressed a public meeting in Portadown, calling to harness opposition from within the DUP to the St Andrews Agreement.

About 80 people gathered in Carleton Street Orange Hall to hear Mr McCartney claim the DUP was guilty of political blackmail.

"I cannot convey to you how sick to the pit of my stomach I feel each time I realise the magnitude of that betrayal and the fact they will actually use that betrayal to squeeze votes out of the unionist community," he said.