Ken Reid reports from Stormont on disagreement at the talks process in Northern Ireland. Unionists have been opposing the wide-ranging powers handed to Senator Mitchell by the British government and their Irish counterparts. After several days of discussions on the issue, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has succeeded in gaining some concessions over Mitchell's role and powers and is content for the Ulster Unionist Party to continue with talks.

However, the DUP and the UK Unionist Party still find Mitchell's position unacceptable, and now split ranks with Trimble. Since the time of the opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement over a decade earlier, there has been close co-ordination between the UUP and DUP. However, there is now a decisive split in their attitude towards the talks process, which will prove to be irrevocable.

In front of the press cameras, Trimble and the Reverend William McCrea of the DUP become involved in a heated discussion, and Ian Paisley denounces the UUP position. David Ervine of the PUP and Gary McMichael of the UDP, both representatives of paramilitary groups, hit out at the DUP for trying to wreck the process.

At this stage, the UUP are committed to the talks, representing mainstream unionism. The paramilitary representatives from the PUP and UDP are also committed, having signed up to the Mitchell Principles on non-violence, while the DUP and UKUP have hardened their positions.

Also interviewed in this piece were John Hume of the SDLP and Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein, who had to answer questions on the killing of a member of the Gardai in the Republic of Ireland which it was suspected was the work of the IRA.

An Ulster Television Production.