Uproar as Trimble re-elected

David Trimble was voted First Minister of Northern Ireland today as tensions among unionist politicians boiled over into extraordinary scenes of jostling and abuse.

The mêlée broke out in the foyer outside the debating chamber at Stormont, where the Assembly finally approved Mr Trimble for the top job.

He won with a majority of 31 to 29 among unionists after the rules were changed to allow three members of the non-sectarian Alliance Party to redesignate themselves as unionists. His victory address in the chamber was interrupted by shouting from members of the Rev Ian Paisley's hardline Democratic Unionist Party, then as he walked out with his newly-elected deputy, the SDLP's Mark Durkan, the throng threatened to turn into a full-scale fight.

Talking to TV journalists just yards from the violence, Mr Trimble told interviewers: "We will not allow ourselves to be distracted by the sort of mob violence that certain parties descend to."

Mr Paisley denied his party was responsible for the shoving, saying: "I hope those in charge of security will name quite clearly those who they saw."

Mr Trimble's victory came at the third time of trying. Yesterday the DUP secured a 24-hour delay but lost a High Court bid to have the process declared illegal. On Friday Mr Trimble secured more than 70 per cent of the overall vote but lost by 30 to 29 in the unionist section.

He was opposed by two rebel members of his own party, Pauline Armitage and Peter Weir, who now face expulsion. Mrs Armitage today accused Mr Trimble of presiding over "concession after concession to the nationalist and republican community". Mr Trimble quit as First Minister in June as a protest against the IRA's failure to begin disarming.