Night of uneasy calm in Belfast

Two died after being shot while sitting in this blue jeep

There has been a mainly trouble-free night on the streets of Belfast.

This violence has got to end and it has got to end now

NI Secretary Peter Mandelson

Soldiers have been patrolling in parts of the city for the first time in two years after an escalation of loyalist violence left two men dead on Monday.

Overnight into Tuesday the streets were quiet, but the atmosphere remained tense.

Police set up checkpoints, which they manned alongside army patrols. An Army helicopter was also deployed, watching the streets with video cameras.

Who are the UDA/UFF?

The Ulster Defence Association and Ulster Freedom Fighters make up the largest loyalist paramilitary group in NI. It called a ceasefire in 1994, but recently threatened to break it by shooting Catholics. It is linked politically to the Ulster Democratic Party.

The two dead men, who have been named as Jackie Coulter, a prominent member of the Ulster Defence Association, and Robbie Mahood, were killed in a shooting in north Belfast.

The attack is believed to be linked to a feud between the rival Ulster Freedom Fighters/Ulster Defence Association and the Ulster Volunteer Force.

The shootings followed a weekend of tension between the rival loyalist paramilitaries on the Shankill Road.

The UDP's John White has blamed UVF for shooting

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson said the latest outbreak of violence had "nothing to do with politics" but was a result of "squalid murderous gang warfare".

"We're not going to have it. We haven't come this far in reducing tension between the two traditions only to see rival loyalist factions take away the gains we have made.

"This violence has got to end and it is got to end now. We have got to restore sanity in the situation."

Earlier on Monday afternoon, he had met security chiefs for an update on the violence.

Following the meeting it was decided to step up security by resuming army patrols in some parts of Belfast and increasing the police presence on the streets.

Army patrols on the streets of Belfast had been gradually cut back to the point where they had ceased altogether in the city as the security situation improved due to the paramilitary ceasefires.

Who are the UVF?

The Ulster Volunteer Force is a loyalist paramilitary group which became prominent in the late 1960s at the beginning of the present Troubles. It called a ceasefire in 1994 and is linked politically to the Progressive Unionist Party.

Routine patrols ended in September 1998, but RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan can seek military assistance when he deems the security situation has deteriorated.

The army has only been seen on the streets of Belfast this year, briefly during the July Drumcree marching stand-off.

The Progressive Unionist Party office on the Shankill Road and a taxi were also attacked by crowds in separate incidents.

Police also said a number of arrests were made and arms were seized at a house in Brookmount Street shortly after 1400 BST.

On Saturday, a UDA-linked festival on the Shankill Road erupted into violence when shots were fired into the Rex bar, injuring seven people.

And a UFF/UDA colour party standing on the festival stage let off a volley of shots cheered on by crowds of people.