Intelligence

Loyalist paramilitaries told to 'stand down'

ePolitix.com - Loyalist paramilitaries told to 'stand down'

The Loyalist Volunteer Force has ordered its 'military units' to stand down.

The LVF said it was responding to the IRA's arms decommissioning arms.

However, some observers believe it has more to do with the conclusion of a feud between the group and the Ulster Volunteer Force, from which it split from originally.

In an earlier statement, Reverend Mervyn Gibson said the loyalist feud, which claimed four lives in Belfast in July and August, had "permanently ended".

He said the group of church and community figures had been holding mediation talks "for some time".

A special report by the ceasefire watchdog said the LVF carried out two murder bids, but their violence was mainly a response to UVF attacks.

The report on the loyalist paramilitary feud led Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain to declare the UVF ceasefire had broken down.

DUP MP Nigel Dodds said he "warmly welcomed" the end of the feud.

"Communities have been set on edge and put into turmoil. I pay tribute to those who have worked so hard to bring this resolution about," he added.

Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said the move was another positive development in the political process.

"Yesterday's announcement that the feud is over, last week the UDA sent a delegation to see the decommissioning body and Gerry Adams, for the first time allowed the words 'the war is over' to pass his lips," he said.

"Now when we take all those things together I think we have had a fairly positive week and something that I think we need to build on."

October 31, 2005 at 01:15 PM in Ireland | Permalink | Top of page | Blog Home