The British military presence in Northern Ireland is set to fall to its lowest level for three decades when a battalion based in the mid-Ulster area leaves for Britain in about two weeks.
The RUC Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, announced on Saturday that further steps towards "normalisation" were now possible. The news, following the start of demolition work at army bases at Cloghogue, south Armagh, and Cookstown, Co Tyrone, and the dismantling of two observation posts in Belfast on Friday, has caused anger in some unionist quarters.
Mr Gregory Campbell, security spokesman for the Democratic Unionist Party, criticised the latest move. "These are concrete steps being put in place by the British government at a time when there are no reciprocal concrete steps by the IRA," said Mr Campbell, MLA for East Londonderry.
"The DUP position has always been, if we have been told the security situation is improving we would have no difficulty in supporting moves which are easily reversed, like scaling down patrols.
"Dismantling bases and observation posts is a radical step. Even the removal of a regiment takes time to reverse."
The East Tyrone battalion, currently based at Killymeal House, Dungannon, consists of 500 soldiers from the third battalion of the Parachute Regiment, will not be replaced when its present tour ends in mid-June. This will leave 13,500 troops in Northern Ireland.
A British army spokesman said: "We are pleased that the level of threat within the province now allows the GOC to rearbase the East Tyrone Battalion on the mainland.
"This is a clear demonstration of the improved security situation in the province which all right-thinking people must welcome. The decision, as always, is made entirely on the basis of the assessed threat level."
The announcement was welcomed by Sinn Fein's Mid Ulster Assembly Member, Mr Francie Molloy, who described it as "another small step in the right direction".
He added: "Our party has campaigned for demilitarisation, both on the streets and in negotiations, for a number of years and we intend to continue this campaign until we see the full demilitarisation of the six counties."