21.   The motion, proposed by two hard-line Protestant parties, is expected to fail.

22.   The participation of two smaller Protestant parties, plus the large Ulster Unionist Party, is considered important for any possible peace agreement.

23.   The proposal the Protestant parties rejected Wednesday says only that the issue of disarmament would be discussed during the talks, with no guarantee of actual disarmament.

24.   The Protestant paramilitary parties compete with the Paisley party for working-class votes in elections.

25.   The Protestant parties, as well as the British government, have refused to sit down with Sinn Fein until the process of disarming the IRA has begun.

26.   The Rev. Ian Paisley, leader of a Protestant party opposed to the talks, is drawing minuscule audiences to his rallies blasting the negotiators.

27.   The withdrawal was praised by the Ulster Unionist Party, the principal mainstream Protestant party in the north.

28.   They are small Protestant parties, the Progressive Unionist Party and the Ulster Democratic Party.

29.   Thus, a pullout by smaller Protestant parties would thwart the talks and jeopardize a settlement.

30.   Throughout the talks, the Ulster Unionists, the largest Protestant party, refused to speak directly to the representatives of Sinn Fein.