Reid under pressure to examine UVF ceasefire

Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid is under pressure today to re-examine the ceasefire of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF…

Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid is under pressure today to re-examine the ceasefire of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) after a warning it may be rearming.

The call came from Alliance Party leader Mr David Ford,after Progressive Unionist Party leader Mr David Ervine indicated the UVF may be topping up its arsenal of weapons.

Mr Ervine warned recent allegations that republicans had trained Marxist rebels in Colombia and the break-in at Special Branch Offices in Castlereagh had dented the UVF's support for the Belfast Agreement.

"I can't deny the UVF is rearming," Mr Ervine said. "Having said that, I have no direct evidence that they are".

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The Ulster Defence Association had its ceasefire declared void by Dr Reid last year after violent incidents in north Belfast.