THE Forum chairman in Belfast, Mr John Gorman, is to send a letter of sympathy to the family of the murdered soldier Lance-Bombardier Stephen Restorick, killed by a sniper in Bessbrook, south Armagh.
The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, told the Forum meeting yesterday the murder victim was a "martyr" who was "shot in the back by an IRA gunman".
"He is a martyr to his dedication, a martyr to his patriotism and a martyr to the task he was fulfilling as a loyal member of the army of this United Kingdom. I utterly deplore the fact that the IRA/Sinn Fein, even at this late time in the upholding of our history, are not even prepared to condemn what has taken place. They tell us they want to talk but openness is unknown to these scoundrels."
The Ulster Unionist security spokesman, Mr Ken Maginnis, joined the condemnation of the murder. He paid tribute to the young men and women who regularly put themselves between the terrorist and the law-abiding community, members of the army and the RUC. He called for a more pro-active approach to dealing with terrorism.
The Alliance Party Forum representative, Mr Sean Neeson, said: "These people who carry out such dastardly acts, there's no talking to them. It is regrettable that here in this Forum and also at Castle Buildings, where we have people trying to make peace, trying to reach an accommodation, while people outside the Forum and outside Castle Buildings who are not looking for peace and that is the sad reality of life in Northern Ireland."
The UK Unionist, Mr Bob McCartney, said: "What is the most disgraceful, the most despicable, the most utterly objectionable aspect of those mouthpieces for the IRA/Sinn Fein is when they come on and describe the callous murder of this young soldier as tragic - when they say that we must murder in the cause of peace, please forgive us when we murder in the cause of peace."
Labour representative Mr Hugh Casey said: "I would like to express our abhorrence and condemnation at this senseless and foul deed which once again shows the hypocrisy of Sinn Fein/IRA."
Mr John Whyte, of the Ulster Democratic Party, commended the loyalist paramilitaries for their restraint following the murder. "I appeal to them to continue not to be provoked by the IRA," he said, calling for all contact between the IRA and the Government to be cut off.