The British and Irish governments have welcomed the announcement by the UDA that the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) has stood down from midnight last night and its weaponry will be "put beyond use".
The Ulster Defence Association leadership in statements read out at UDA "war" memorials around Northern Ireland yesterday morning said that it believed the "war is over".
The UFF is a component part of the UDA. Its first manifestation was in 1973, two years after the formation of the UDA. It was viewed chiefly as a cover for the UDA, which was responsible for over 400 killings during the Troubles.
The UDA was at its most powerful in 1974 when it helped force the collapse of the Sunningdale powersharing administration. It is now reckoned to have a few thousand members, compared to 40,000 in the mid-1970s. It stopped short of making any commitment to disarm. Its south Belfast "brigadier" Jackie McDonald, however, said the organisation was continuing to co-operate with General John de Chastelain's decommissioning body.
Referring to SDLP Minister Margaret Ritchie's attempt to pressurise the UDA into decommissioning, Mr McDonald said: "Margaret Thatcher Ritchie would have everybody believe that 99 per cent of people want decommissioning. Ninety-nine per cent of people who we represent in the loyalist community won't hear tell of decommissioning. They are not the UDA's guns."
Mr McDonald spoke at the UDA Poppy Day wreath-laying off the Sandy Row in south Belfast where he also officiated at the ceremonial furling of the UFF standard.
The leadership statement also announced that the Ulster Defence Union would be formed "to facilitate the retirement" of UDA/UFF members but that the UDA "will remain the parent organisation".
The statement also carried an order to UDA members "not to be involved in crime or criminality".
Against allegations that the UDA was heavily involved in drugs Mr McDonald said: "The drug dealers must go. If you can't shoot them, shop them." When the statement announcing the standing down was read out in front of 1,000 UDA members just one man, who shouted "Up the UFF", walked away. The crowd applauded the statement.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the statement was "significant and hopefully signals a further step towards the ending of all paramilitarism in Northern Ireland".
Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward said the statement was significant. "It is essential that the commitments they have given - those of an end to violence and criminality - are implemented on the ground."
