Ulster Unionists have warned that arms decommissioning must be settled before devolved government can be restored in Northern Ireland.

Party leader David Trimble issued the demand at today's launch of the Ulster Unionists' 16-page manifesto for this month's assembly elections.

Whilst he accepted that progress had been made in the province, Trimble said a lasting peace was still a long way off.

The UUP will be campaigning for Northern Ireland's assets recovery agency to be given more resources to fight Ulster's paramilitary gangs as well as more traditional demands in health and education.

Trimble pledged that the UUP would call for integrated health centre in every major population area and replace all mobile classrooms with permanent accommodation within five years.

On policing the party said it would remove the 50:50 quotas for Catholic and Protestant police recruits and get more officers on the frontline.

It also vowed to build a national stadium for Northern Ireland which would serve as a centre for excellence for sport.

Trimble gave an upbeat assessment of how the peace process could go forward.

But he warned that the onus was on republicans to make the first move.

"Progress occurred. Republicans talked of pursuing their objectives peacefully," he said."They defined the agreement as providing full and final closure of the conflict.

"But they failed to decommission in a manner to maximise public confidence or to give the assurance that this time the process would be completed.

"We want to see the assembly restored but only when republicans have dealt conclusively with the issues of decommissioning, continued paramilitary activity and the effective winding-up of their private army."