Alliance calls on paramilitaries to give up arms

An emergency motion calling on loyalist and republican paramilitaries to decommission their arms is to be passed at today's Alliance…

An emergency motion calling on loyalist and republican paramilitaries to decommission their arms is to be passed at today's Alliance Party conference in Belfast.

The party's annual conference in the Stormont Hotel will be addressed by the North's security minister, Ms Jane Kennedy, as well as the Alliance Party's newly-elected leader, Mr David Ford.

The emergency motion condemns the failure by paramilitaries to provide confidence in the durability of their ceasefires and calls on all pro-Belfast Agreement parties to assert collective pressure rather than unilateral ultimatums to that end.

Another proposed motion will condemn the al-Quaida attacks on New York and Washington, and call for a military response "consistent with international law and the United Nations Charter". The motion also expresses concern for the plight of innocent Afghan civilians and urges the international community to set up a major programme of humanitarian aid and political assistance for Afghanistan.

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On policing, the Alliance condemns unionist and nationalist parties for their selective support of the police, accusing them of "playing political football" with the issue. The party, however, welcomes the new emphasis on human rights and the role of the Police Ombudsman.

The party is expected to welcome the publication of a draft Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland and calls on the Human Rights Commission to ensure that priority be given to the rights of children, women, the disabled and ethnic minorities. The party also wants to see the right to integrated education included in the Bill.

Another motion will call for the establishment of a governmental working group to review existing prostitution laws, which date back to 1845. It will also request "exit programmes" for those wishing to leave prostitution.

On segregated housing, the Alliance calls on the Executive to actively promote and support a mixed-housing policy as a priority. It also demands to see a co-ordinated response to paramilitary trappings on housing estates.

All motions are expected to be passed by delegates.