Northern Ireland's political institutions were tonight plunged into a new crisis as Ulster Unionists began a phased withdrawal of ministers from the power-sharing executive.
Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble announced his ministers would boycott cabinet meetings from this week and then resign after two motions to exclude Sinn Féin from the executive were defeated in the Assembly.
Under cross community voting procedures, a motion by Mr Trimble to remove Sinn Féin ministers Mr Martin McGuinness and Ms Bairbre de Brún from office was defeated because while it attracted the support of all unionist Assembly members, it did not secure the majority of nationalists it also needed.
The motion received 54 votes to 45 with all nationalists and non-designated MLAs voting against.
A second motion by the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists was also defeated under cross-community voting.
A total of 56 unionists voted in favour. None of the 39 nationalists and six non-aligned MLAs supported it.
PA