On Wednesday night, a UUP honorary secretary, David Brewster, and a number of party officers called for an earlier meeting of the party's 100-member executive to discuss what they called the "grave crisis" caused by the UK Government's plans to reform the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

BBC: 'Cordial' Trimble-Ahern meeting

On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg raised Mr. Heywood's case during a meeting with Liu Yandong, a member of the party's 25-member Politburo.

WSJ: U.K. Raises Brit's Death in China Talks