Joan Wilson, widow of the late Senator Gordon Wilson is to back unionist unity election candidate Rodney Connor as he prepares to hand in his nomination papers into Omagh's Electoral Office tomorrow (Friday).

Mrs. Wilson is to be Mr Connor's nominator after it was confirmed last Friday he is to stand as an Independent candidate for Fermanagh/south Tyrone in the forthcoming general election.

Mrs Wilson's daughter, Marie, was the youngest victim of the 1987 Enniskillen Bombing, following which her husband Gordon rose to worldwide prominence when he forgave his daughter's killers.

Mrs. Wilson said yesterday that she had "no hesitation" when asked by Mr Connor to lend her support to his Westminster campaign.

"I have been friends with Rodney and his wife Liz for many, many years. We are all members of Enniskillen Methodist Church on Darling Street and I even played the organ at their wedding. He is a dear friend of mine and I had no hesitation when he asked me to be his nominator. I wish him the very best in his campaign and I whole-heartedly believe he is the best man for the job," she said.

Following a series of protracted negotiations, last Thursday evening the DUP and the Ulster Unionists also agreed to stand aside to allow Mr. Connor, the former chief executive of Fermanagh District Council to stand.

Shortly after Mr Connor's announcement on Friday, the SDLP held an impromptu press conference expressing their discontent at unionists for turning the campaign into a "sectarian headcount".

Election candidate Fearghal McKinney refused to step aside and allow the election to become a two horse race between Mr Connor and incumbent MP Michelle Gildernew.

On the same day, the Conservative party, who have themselves formed an alliance with the UUP, said they were happy to accommodate Mr Connor on the basis that he will accept the Tory whip at Westminster.

Mr Connor insisted he is an Independent but will accept the whip only on matters concerning Northern Ireland and will vote on the basis of what he believes is in the best interests of his constituents.

Later that evening, it emerged that not all Conservatives agreed to the unity pact as former vice-chair of the NI conservatives Jeff Peel resigned from the party describing the move as a "total sham".

Last Saturday, the Ulster Unionists and the DUP met with Mr Connor in Enniskillen to discuss plans for his forthcoming election campaign.

Meanwhile, a war of words has broken out between Sinn Fein and the SDLP over an offer by Gerry Adams to field a joint nationalist candidate.

Yesterday (Wednesday), sitting MP Michelle Gildernew attacked SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie on her rejection of an electoral pact.

"Last night while on the canvass I have to say that I was met with a mixture of anger, dismay and disappointment at the decision of the SDLP to reject this initiative without even the courtesy of a meeting. Sinn Féin made a genuine initiative to try and ensure that nationalists in both Fermanagh South Tyrone and South Belfast retain their representation. We offered to stand aside in South Belfast in return for the SDLP doing the same in Fermanagh and South Tyrone." In a letter to Gerry Adams, which she issued to the press on Tuesday, the SDLP leader said her party is against joining forces.

"I was disappointed to receive such an approach given the fact that both of our parties have roundly condemned as sectarian/tribal, the recent unionist electoral pact in this election." She continued, "I believe that both my party and yours described the pact as 'sectarian'. I believe it is important now to be principled and consistent. Co-operation between our parties or an electoral pact - whatever description you choose - would put my party and yours in precisely the same place as the DUP and UU/Tories." In response Ms Gildernew challenged her to attend a Sinn Fein meeting in Enniskillen tonight (Thursday) and explain to the nationalist community why she rejected this initiative.

"Margaret Ritchie now needs to come to Fermanagh and South Tyrone and explain to the nationalist community why she has rejected this initiative and why she wants to give a leg up to a unionist Tory. Sinn Féin have a meeting organised in Enniskillen, she is more than welcome to attend and explain her failure to lead directly to the people." Further in the letter Margaret Ritchie said Sinn Fein's electoral unity offer contradicts their recent and past actions and said it was not "credible" to ask the SDLP to co-operate in such an approach.

"We will not be doing any electoral deal with Sinn Fein or any other Party. We are of course prepared to meet with your Party, or any other Party, so we can discuss face-to-face delivering for people at Westminster, how we can do more on jobs and the Economy, and how we can build a Shared Future" she concluded.

But Ms Gildernew said the initiative came in direct response from demands of the voters on the doorsteps and described a vote for the SDLP is a "wasted" vote.

"We will continue to fight for every vote. We will continue to put forward our vision for Irish unity and stand on our record of effective representation here and elsewhere. This will be a close election. Every nationalist vote will count. A vote for the SDLP in Fermanagh and South Tyrone is a wasted vote." With today (Thursday) just three weeks away from polling day, the election machine in Fermanagh/ south Tyrone is well and truly in production with candidates hot on the trail looking for your vote.

All election candidates have until next Tuesday, April 20 to submit their nomination papers into the Electoral Office in Omagh which will handle nominations for the West Tyrone and Fermanagh /south Tyrone constituencies.

Confirmed election candidates Sinn Fein's Michelle Gildernew and independent candidate Rodney Connor are expected to submit their nominations papers tomorrow (Friday) while SDLP's Fearghal McKinney will submit his on Monday and Alliance's Vasundhara Kamble will hand her papers in on Tuesday.

Fifth Candidate It's been confirmed a fifth candidate is to throw their hat into the ring and contest the Fermanagh/south Tyrone seat in the general election on May 6.

John Stevenson from Enniskillen is to submit his nomination papers into Omagh's Electoral Office tomorrow (Friday) and is to stand as an Independent.