Paisley pushing for Protestant 'no' votes

One of Northern Ireland's Protestant leaders has launched a campaign to defeat the province's peace agreement. Democratic Union party leader Rev. Ian Paisley is urging Protestants to vote "no" in a referendum next month.

"This is a struggle for the very life's blood of the union and the future of our province," Paisley said.

The D.U.P. took out newspaper advertisements today urging people to vote down the agreement in a May 22 referendum. The ads said the accord "puts murderers on the streets" and urged voters to contribute funds to the "no" campaign.

The referendum requires a majority "yes" vote for the accord to take effect.

Paisley criticized Ulster Unionist party leader David Trimble for accepting the deal. And he challenged British Prime Minister Tony Blair to say what will happen if it is defeated.

The British and Irish governments think Paisley's oppositon may make the vote close.

The Orange Order is debating whether to advise its 50,000 members to oppose or reject the deal.