Hain welcomes end to 'grizzly feud'

Monday, 31 October 2005 12:00 AM

Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain has welcomed as a "step forward" the order by a loyalist paramilitary group for its military units to stand down.

The Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) made the statement - effective from midnight last night - in response to confirmation of the IRA's decommissioning of weapons last month.

It came after yesterday's formal end to hostilities with the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) from whom the LVF split in 1996, and with whom it has been engaged in a violent power struggle this summer, claiming four lives.

"The LVF and the UVF have been engaged in a grizzly feud. I welcome any move that brings such murderous violence to an end," Mr Hain told MPs this afternoon.

"The statement is a step forward and gives encouragement to those working to establish the primacy of politics."

However, he stressed that "words must also be matched by deeds", and called for full decommissioning of all paramilitary arsenals, and a complete end to all paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland.

The decision by both the UVF and the LVF to silence their guns was announced yesterday by Reverend Mervyn Gibson, the chairman of the Loyalist Commission, an umbrella body involving clergymen and political representatives.

"The primary aim of the initiative was to stop further hurt and injury to any one person," he said.

"A process of extensive talks was embarked upon independently with the UVF/Red Hand Commando [its military wing] and the LVF.

"Those initiating the process had the encouragement of many within political and community life and the prayer support of individuals and churches. We now believe that the feud has permanently ended."

Nigel Dodds, DUP North Belfast MP, said he "warmly welcomed" the end of the feud, adding: "Communities have been set on edge and put into turmoil. I pay tribute to those who have worked so hard to bring this resolution about."

Last month the Independent Monitoring Commission confirmed the IRA had decommissioned its arsenal of illegal weapons.

Mr Hain had called on loyalists to follow the IRA's lead, saying: "It's taken a long time for republican paramilitaries to learn that violence doesn't pay. Now it's high time loyalist paramilitaries learned it too."

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