Sinn Fein chairman Mr Mitchel McLaughlin will not contest next year's EuropeanParliament election in Northern Ireland.
In a surprise move, Sinn Fein sources confirmed tonight that Mr McLaughlin,who is one of the party's senior negotiators, has not put his name forward.
Former Stormont health minister Ms Bairbre de Brun and Dungannon councillorFrancie Molloy are bidding instead to sit in Brussels and Strasbourg.
Sinn Fein sources said Mr McLaughlin had not submitted his name because he"wanted to concentrate on his role as national chairman".
The party is also contesting European Parliament seats in the Irish Republicand has already announced that Ms Mary Lou McDonald will be its candidate inDublin.
Mr McLaughlin put up a strong challenge for the last of Northern Ireland'sthree European Parliament seats in 1999.
The former Foyle MLA secured 117,643 votes, 17.3 per cent of the poll. Ulster UnionistMr Jim Nicholson won the third seat, securing 119,507 or 17.6 per cent of the firstpreference votes.
Democratic Unionist leader, the Reverend Ian Paisley, again topped the poll -a feat he has achieved in every European Parliament contest.
Former SDLP leader Mr John Hume captured the only nationalist seat.Mr Hume and Mr Paisley are expected to put their names forward again nextyear.
Sinn Fein's European Parliament candidate in Northern Ireland will be chosenat a convention on September 5.
A party source said the contest between Ms de Brun and Mr Molloy would be "atough call".
PA