A prominent loyalist, Mr John White, has dismissed a demand for UDA members in the Shankill to distance themselves from the leading loyalist, Johnny Adair.
The UDA is blaming Adair's "C" Company in the lower Shankill for a series of attacks on loyalist families. In a coded message, it warned Adair and Mr White that there must be no further attacks.
Loyalist sources said it was an attempt to isolate Adair and his supporters. He has recently been expelled by the UDA leadership. In a statement, the paramilitary group claimed eight loyalist families had been attacked in the past fortnight.
It warned that a third loyalist feud could begin and that other UDA members in west Belfast must distance themselves from Adair's "C" Company.
Meanwhile, the UDA and the LVF have been placed on a US government terror blacklist.