51.   The negotiations are intended to produce agreement on new forms of governing Northern Ireland which are acceptable to the Protestant majority and to the Roman Catholic minority.

52.   The Protestant majority want a stable local administration.

53.   The Protestant majority wants continued links with Britain, and Catholics want formal ties with the rest of Ireland.

54.   Unionist politicians, representing the Protestant majority in Northern Ireland, again said that they were likely to reject the proposal, though they did not rule out negotiations.

55.   Two rural councils also looked likely to lose their Protestant majorities because of Sinn Fein gains.

56.   Unionist politicians, representing the Protestant majority in Northern Ireland, again served notice that they were likely to reject the proposal.

57.   The party feared the forum might become a de facto local parliament that would be dominated by its Protestant majority.

58.   The Protestant majority has often accused the White House of supporting the Catholic minority and Sinn Fein.

59.   The unionists, who draw their support mainly from the Protestant majority in Northern Ireland, oppose links with Dublin and favour a continued union with Britain.

60.   Loyalist paramilitaries from the Protestant majority who want the province to stay British followed suit six weeks later.