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Ulster Unionist Party announces it is to leave NI Executive Ulster Unionist Party intends to leave NI Executive
(35 minutes later)
The Ulster Unionist Party is leaving the Northern Ireland Executive, the party's leader has said. The Ulster Unionist Party intends to leave the Northern Ireland Executive, the party's leader has said.
Mike Nesbitt's announcement is part of the continuing political row that followed the murder of Kevin McGuigan earlier this month. Mike Nesbitt said he had made the recommendation during a meeting with senior party members.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said members of the Provisional IRA were involved in Mr McGuigan's murder. He said it had been endorsed "unanimously" but would need the party's ruling body to make a final decision on Saturday.
Both police and government said that the Provisional IRA continues to exist. Mr Nesbitt said if they supported the withdrawal then the party would form an opposition.
The Ulster Unionist announcement is part of a continuing political row that followed the murder of Kevin McGuigan earlier..
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said members of the Provisional IRA were involved in the murder.
Mr McGuigan Sr, a 53-year-old ex-IRA man, was killed in what police believe was part of a "fall-out" in republican circles after the murder of former IRA commander Gerard 'Jock' Davison in May.
Police said an infrastructure exists at a senior level of the Provisional IRA, but that there was no evidence that Mr McGuigan's murder was sanctioned by that hierarchy.
On Sunday, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said there was no reason for armed republican groups, such as the IRA, to exist as the movement was committed to peace.
'No trust'
Mr Nesbitt said Sinn Féin had "no credibility and we have no trust and without trust we have nothing".
"The situation can be fixed but we need some clarity about the IRA and its command structure," he said.
He said the DUP and Sinn Féin-led government had been "incapable of delivering positive outcomes".
Mr Nesbitt said Danny Kennedy, the minister for regional development, would resign if the recommendation was endorsed.
He said he had chaired a meeting attended by the party's MLA, MEP, MPs, senior representatives of its councillors association and its party chairman and they had all given their support for withdrawal.
The party executive is expected to make a decision on Saturday.
"We will then form an opposition and offer the voter an alternative as is normal in any democracy," he added.
"It has not been an easy decision but we believe it is the right thing to do at this time."