Ex-Northern Ireland first minister and UUP leader David Trimble dies
Lord Trimble, who was 77, led the UUP between 1995 and 2005 and was instrumental in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement - the peace deal which ended the worst of Northern Ireland's Troubles.
His efforts won him the Nobel Peace Prize and SDLP leader John Hume.
Since 2006, he sat in the House of Lords as Baron Trimble of Lisnagarvey.
He was the first person to serve as the first minister in the new Northern Ireland Executive established as part of the Good Friday Agreement.
A statement from the UUP said: "It is with great sadness that the family of Lord Trimble announce that he passed away peacefully earlier today following a short illness."
He is survived by his wife, Daphne and their four children.
Current UUP leader Doug Beattie described Lord Trimble as a "political giant".
"David Trimble was a man of courage and vision. He chose to grasp the opportunity for peace when it presented itself and sought to end the decades of violence that blighted his beloved Northern Ireland," Mr Beattie said.
"He will forever be associated with the leadership he demonstrated in the negotiations that led up to the 1998 Belfast Agreement.
"The bravery and courage he demonstrated whilst battling his recent illness were typical of the qualities he showed in his political career, at Stormont and Westminster.
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