Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble today announced plans to oust Sinn Féin from the Stormont Executive in an attempt to force the IRA into decommissioning its weapons.
As Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid declared devolved power will be returned to the North from midnight, former First Minister Mr Trimble warned that he will pull his own ministers from the cabinet if IRA guns are not put beyond use.
Unveiling his new tactics, Mr Trimble said: "That will bring matters to a head."
The North's power-sharing Assembly and Executive were suspended for the third time since their inception from midnight last night as the British and Irish Government's sought to prevent the peace process from collapsing.
By opting for a 24-hour halt, Dr Reid has bought another six weeks in which to secure IRA decommissioning.
He said: "I have decided in the light of discussions I have had in the past 24 hours to lift suspension of the institutions, with effect from midnight tonight.
"This gives us another period to try and resolve the outstanding issues which are prohibiting the full working of the institutions and the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement."
It is the second time the one-day suspension has been used since Mr Trimble resigned as Stormont First Minister on July 1st over the IRA's failure to disarm.
The move was opposed by Ulster Unionists seeking a more indefinite freezing of the Assembly and Executive.
As Dr Reid announced his plans, Mr Trimble unveiled his party's intentions to have the two republican ministers, Mr Martin McGuinness and Ms Bairbre de Brún, banished from the cabinet.
"On Monday morning we will table in the Assembly a motion to exclude Sinn Féin ministers from the Executive," he said.
It is expected to take up to three weeks before the plan can be debated, and the chances of achieving the required cross-community backing for such a move are virtually nil.
In these circumstances, Mr Trimble explained, the three UUP members of the Executive, Sir Reg Empey, Mr Michael McGimpsey and Mr Sam Foster, could not continue in their posts.
"It would be impossible to do so," he told BBC Radio Ulster.
"We could not do so credibly; we will not do so."
Mr Trimble's bid to up the stakes comes amid reports that the IRA are set to seal two of its arms bunkers before the end of the year.
Dr Reid insisted he had no knowledge of such moves and called the reports "mischievous".
However, the Northern Ireland Secretary stressed the onus was now on republicans to act.
Putting its weapons beyond use would be an "earth-shattering step", he accepted, but that was now required.
However, Sinn Féin’s Mr Gerry Kelly accused Dr Reid of ignoring the Belfast accord by his actions.
The North Belfast Assemblyman said: "Suspension is not under the Good Friday Agreement."
"It's the British government and John Reid trying to focus all attention on arms when they need to look at why these institutions are being brought down."
Mr Kelly also poured scorn on any impending move by the IRA on decommissioning, saying: "There's no sense that they are shifting their position."
PA