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July 31

The signing of the treaty follows nine years of negotiation

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The United States and the Soviet Union have signed an historic agreement reducing their stockpiles of nuclear warheads by about a third.

The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as Start, was signed in Moscow by US President George Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

At a joint news conference after the signing ceremony, Mr Bush described the Start treaty as "a significant step forward in dispelling half a century of mistrust".

Mr Gorbachev said it promised to be the start of "an irreversible process" of arms reduction, but stressed there was "still a lot to do".

The agreement took more than nine years to negotiate, and reduces each side's strategic nuclear weapons by about 35% over seven years.

The Soviet Union's land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles will also be cut by 50%.

It is the first major agreement between the two countries over arms reduction since the Salt treaties, signed in 1972 and 1979, which limited the numbers of long-range nuclear missiles.

The Start treaty goes further, however, by committing the superpowers to scaling down their fleets of nuclear missiles and bombers, rather than just limiting expansion.

However, it still leaves the US and the Soviet Union with 9,000 and 7,000 warheads respectively. There was also no agreement over space weapons, or sea-launched cruise missiles.

Throughout the two-day summit, the emphasis has been on a new era of cooperation between the two sides.

Mr Bush and Mr Gorbachev spent much of their time discussing Mr Gorbachev's attempts to reform the ailing Soviet economy and the help that might be offered by the West, although neither leader would be drawn on specific details.

They are also understood to have discussed a jointly-sponsored Middle East peace conference.

Mr Bush's visit takes place at a time of increasing unrest in the Soviet republics.

Six months ago Moscow put down an uprising in Lithuania, and just yesterday six Lithuanian border guards were killed in suspicious circumstances.

Both Mr Bush and Mr Gorbachev said they regretted the incident, but refused to comment further.

In an indication of the delicate balance of power in the Soviet Union, Mr Bush has taken time during his visit to meet the President of the Russian Republic, Boris Yeltsin, for private talks.

However, he was quick to reassure journalists in Moscow he continues to support Mr Gorbachev and the Soviet government.

Unionists converged on Stormont when parliament was suspended in March 1972

It is the first democratically elected assembly in Northern Ireland since direct rule was imposed by London last March.

The inaugural meeting was to elect a presiding officer and invite nominations to the standing committee to draw up procedural rules.

But the two-hour debate was disrupted by loud protest and interruptions from a group of 27 hardline loyalists - forming the biggest power block in the administration - led by Reverend Ian Paisley.

Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Mr Paisley said: "I should like those members of the British Government who are here and the Westminster members who areskulkingin the galleries to know that Ulstermen are free people and we are not going to be bullied."

The loyalist-unionist alliance - including the DUP, the Vanguard Party and the 10 unaligned Unionists - issued statements yesterday to reject the British Government's White Paper and proposals for a power-sharing executive and Council of Ireland.

Unionist Party leader and former Northern Ireland Prime Minister Brian Faulkner criticised the unaligned unionists and the behaviour of their alliance at the Assembly meeting.

Leaders of the main Catholic opposition group, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) were also scathing.

Veteran SDLP leader Gerry Fitt made a quiet, constructive contribution to the debate.

"We have come here today with a clear commitment to make this assembly a fair and just system of administration for the people of Northern Ireland," he said.

After two hours of barracking, the Assembly elected a Unionist with 24 years' experience at Stormont, Nat Minford, as presiding officer by 31 votes to 26.

Minutes after the meeting was adjourned Mr Paisley and his loyalist group stayed in the chamber - with the lights turned off - to continue their vociferous protest against the British Government.

skulk :to lie in hiding,as out of cowardice or bad conscience (偷偷隱躲）