THE Ulster Unionist Party will split if a party leader David Trimble completes a deal with Sinn Féin this week, following a showdown at the party's annual conference in Armagh yesterday. Trimble told the 200 or so delegates that the party's "biggest problem" was the "mixed message, the constant infighting".

One senior figure close to Trimble predicted that if an election was called and the three rebel MPs continued to defy party policy, he will refuse to nominate them as UUP candidates.

Denouncing the three, Jeffrey Donaldson, Martin Smyth and David Burnside, Trimble, he demanded: "Gentlemen, would you please decide whether you prefer to be independent members or if you really do want to be part of a political party?" There was loud applause.

Smyth, who was on the platform, remained stony faced.

A furious Donaldson afterwards accused Trimble of being "deceitful" and predicted he was about to be "suckered yet again by Sinn Féin IRA". He said the party leader would have to bring any deal to a meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council.