Re-election of Protestant party chief blocked

BELFAST, Northern Ireland -- Northern Ireland's Catholic-Protestant government faced suspension or collapse Friday after two rebellious Protestant lawmakers refused to support their party chief's effort to be re-elected government leader.

David Trimble, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, couldn't rally enough support from the Protestant side of the 108-seat legislature, which must approve the selection of Cabinet ministers. While Catholics unanimously backed Trimble, fellow Protestants voted 30-29 against him -- fatal in a voting system that requires majority support from both camps.

Trimble had hoped to receive sufficient support on the heels of last week's breakthrough decision by the Irish Republican Army to begin disarming, a long-held Protestant demand.

Pivotal in Trimble's defeat were two fellow Ulster Unionists who sided with other Protestants determined to sabotage the administration, which has been leaderless since Trimble resigned in July in protest at the IRA's refusal to scrap weapons.

Laws governing the nearly 2-year-old legislature require the government to elect a leader today, otherwise Britain must resume direct control of the province, at least temporarily.

Trimble said his party would punish the rebels, who blocked him in hopes of killing off a coalition that includes the IRA-linked Sinn Fein party. The dissidents complained the IRA disarmament was too secretive.

"I would ask people not to lose heart, not to despair," said Trimble. "I am confident that we will succeed and carry this process forward."