UDA 'disillusioned' over ceasefire

The UDA ceasefire has not been recognised since October 2001

The loyalist paramilitary Ulster Defence Association has called on the British Government to recognise its ceasefire.

The Ulster Political Research Group, which speaks on behalf of the UDA, said members of the paramilitary organisation were disillusioned by the government's response to its six-month-old initiative aimed at reducing trouble in loyalist areas.

The UDA said it believed loyalists were being treated more unfavourably than republicans.

It contrasted their treatment with the recent peace process proposal to enable on-the-run IRA members to return to Northern Ireland without being jailed.

In February, the UDA said it was re-introducing its ceasefire and restructuring the organisation, but added its position on decommissioning had not changed.

The UDA is Northern Ireland's largest loyalist paramilitary group.

Sinn Fein spokesman Paul Butler responded to the UDA claims by saying the UDA needed to show that any intimidation of Catholics and involvement in criminal activity was over.

'Faceless organisation'

The ceasefires of the UDA/UFF and Loyalist Volunteer Force have not been recognised since October 2001 when the then secretary of state, John Reid, declared them over following a series of sectarian pipe bombings, murder and attacks on the police.

At the time, Dr Reid said his decision followed increasing levels of violence and the murder of the journalist Martin O'Hagan.

The UDA leadership is publicly known but the organisation said in February it intended to become "faceless".

The statement followed a handover of pipe bombs by the group.