Trimble pledge on N.Ireland peace

Trimble leads an Ulster Unionist delegation following talks last week

THIEPVAL, France -- Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has pledged to resume his post as Northern Ireland's first minister if paramilitaries begin handing over arms.

Trimble quit the post at midnight on Saturday, seeing through his threat to resign if there was no progress on the decommissioning of arms by the Irish Republican Army (IRA).

Speaking in France, where he has joined ceremonies commemorating the World War One battle of the Somme, Trimble said he stepped down because the IRA could no longer be trusted to meet the demands of the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement.

Trimble said: "I am prepared to resume office, but only if we get this settled and we see weapons being put permanently beyond use."

AUDIO AUDIO: David Trimble: "Arms should already have been handed over" 1.00 MB / 1 min 30 secs AIFF or WAV sound   ANALYSIS Q&A: Trimble's gamble explained

He said there had been "insufficient pressure" on the IRA to hand over its weapons, and that he hoped resigning would help meet the objectives of the peace agreement.

"I'm stepping down as First Minister in order to ensure the agreement is fully implemented," he said.

"There's a job still to be done and I'm quite focused on achieving that. It's been my experience that if you sit back hoping the IRA will fulfill its obligations, it won't."

Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid, also in France for the ceremony, said he hoped he would not have to suspend the power-sharing Northern Ireland Assembly following Trimble's resignation.

"That is not what we're aiming for," he said. "We're aiming to implement all the aspects of the agreement. That includes the full working of the institutions, and I hope that we can create the circumstances where David Trimble...can once again be back at the helm."

Trimble's resignation came on a day which saw minor clashes between Protestants and Catholics during a contentious loyalist parade in Belfast. The Protestant "marching season," during which historic victories over Catholics are celebrated, is an annual flashpoint for potential trouble.

Trimble had submitted a post-dated resignation letter several weeks ago, and a Northern Ireland Office spokesman told Reuters early on Sunday: "As of midnight, David Trimble ceased to be First Minister of Northern Ireland's power-sharing government."

The Ulster Unionist leader, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize winner with Catholic leader John Hume for their part in the 1998 Good Friday peace accord, has asked Trade Minister Reg Empey, another Ulster Unionist, to take over his duties.

The Northern Ireland Assembly will now be given six weeks to consider its next move -- which could involve reappointing Trimble or replacing him.

After that period the assembly could be suspended, meaning the return of direct rule from the UK parliament in Westminster, and new elections could be called.

"I am sorry that David Trimble has resigned today as first minister, although I fully understand the reasons why he has felt it necessary to do so," British Prime Minister Tony Blair said in a statement issued early on Sunday.

"David Trimble has been a good first minister for the people of Northern Ireland and I hope that he will be able to resume that role shortly.

Trimble quit as first minister at midnight on Saturday

"Like David I too want to see the full implementation of the Good Friday agreement in all its aspects and that will be our aim in the talks over the coming days."

Empey said his role would be to perform the functions of First Minister but not take the title or salary. He said he hoped Trimble would be re-elected as first minister.

"This is only a sticking plaster solution for a very short time, for a matter of weeks," Empey said.

He said his party would not share power with Sinn Fein, the republican political party, unless the IRA started to disarm.

Sinn Fein leaders have said Trimble's resignation amounts to an evasion of responsibility for peace in the province.

The IRA has twice opened up arms dumps for international inspection to prove that the weapons have not been used, but Protestant politicians say that is not enough.

Canadian General John de Chastelain is due to present his latest report on weapons decommissioning to the UK Government early next week.

The minor scuffles during Saturday's march Belfast came as a barrier was placed to seal off a Catholic area of the city before the march.

The next potential flashpoint march is the Drumcree parade in a week's time, when Protestants file past a Catholic area in Portadown.