PICKETS AT STORMONT (N. IRELAND PARLIAMENT); MINISTERS ARRIVING; SOLDIERS GUARDING RESERVOIR.




Initials GL/V/CT/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MEMBERS OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND'S RULING UNIONIST PARTY, AGREED AT A CRISIS MEETING YESTERDAY (23 APRIL) TO INTRODUCE ONE-MAN ONE-VOTE IN LOCAL ELECTIONS. PARTY MEMBERS VOTED 28 TO 22 TO ALLOW PREMIER TERENCE O'NEILL TO GO AHEAD WITH PLANS TO REFORM THE FRANCHISE.

CAPTAIN O'NEILL HAD THREATENED TO RESIGN IF HE DID NOT GET HIS WAY. THE DECISION COMES AFTER MONTHS OF INCREASING CONFLICT BETWEEN MILITANT PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLIC RIGHTS WORKERS WHO WERE DEMANDING THE FULL FRANCHISE FOR THE PROVINCE'S CATHOLIC MINORITY.

CAPTAIN O'NEILL'S HARDWON VICTORY LED TO THE IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION OF HIS MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, MAJOR JAMES CHICHESTER-CLARK, WHO WARNED THAT THE DECISION "MIGHT ENCOURAGE MILITANT PROTESTANTS, EVEN TO BLOODSHED".

FORMER HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER WILLIAM CRAIG, A LEADING PROTESTANT HARD-LINER, SAID: "THE DECISION WON'T PLACATE MILITANTS IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT", WHILE MICHAEL FARRELL, LEADER OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP KNOWN AS PEOPLE'S DEMOCRACY, SAID HIS FOLLOWERS HAD PLENTY OF OTHER DEMANDS BESIDES ONE-MAN ONE-VOTE.

AS IF TO UNDERLINE THE CONTINUING TENSION IN NORTHERN IRELAND, AN EXPLOSION EARLY TODAY (24 APRIL) SHATTERED AS WATER MAIN SUPPLYING BELFAST, CAPITAL OF THE PROVINCE AND SCENE OF RECENT RIOTING.

BRITISH TROOPS HAVE BEEN GUARDING RESERVOIRS, POWER CABLES AND OTHER PUBLIC UTILITIES SINCE LAST SUNDAY (20 APRIL) WHEN ANOTHER WATER MAIN SUPPLYING THE CITY WAS BLOWN UP.

POLICE RUSHED TO THE SCENE OF THE NEW EXPLOSION, AT DUNADRY, ABOUT 20 MILES (32 KMS) FROM BELFAST. THEY DESCRIBED THE EXPLOSION AS VERY HEAVY.

FILM SHOWS TROOPS OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND FIRST LIGHT INFANTRY GUARDING CARRYDUFF RESERVOIR, WHICH SUPPLIES WATER TO BELFAST. THIS IS NOT THE SUPPLY AFFECTED BY THE SABOTAGE.