Calls for more re-arrests

Mr Mandelson is under pressure to re-jail loyalists

Conservatives are keeping up the pressure on Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson to send more early-release loyalist prisoners back to jail.

It follows the re-arrest of Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) leader Johnny Adair after an escalating feud between loyalist groups in Belfast led to two murders.

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.

Mr Mandelson ordered his re-arrest after senior police officers told him they believed Adair was playing a pivotal role in the loyalist feuding.

The minister said Adair's arrest should act as a warning to others.

Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Andrew Mackay said the only way of ending violence was to ensure the rule of law prevailed and revoke the licences of prisoners on release.

'Send a message'

He said: "Parliament very clearly passed the Northern Ireland Sentences Act two years ago, which said that when these terrorists were released early, they had to be released only on licence.

"That licence had to be revoked by the Secretary of State if prisoners were associating with paramilitaries, and Adair was doing that at Drumcree back in July."

He called on Mr Mandelson to look at all the evidence, see which other prisoners had breached their licences and send them back to prison.

"That would send a clear message to all the men of violence, whether they are so-called loyalists or republican. In the long-run, that's the way to a lasting peace and taking the guns out of society in Northern Ireland."

Mediation hope

Mr Mandelson said he believed in time, members of Adair's own organisation would recognise he had seriously compromised himself and would reconsider where the violence was leading.

He hoped they would find ways of mediating with their rivals instead of resorting to violence.

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.

He said he believed the loyalist paramilitary ceasefires were still intact.

But he added: "It is possible for an organisation to be on ceasefire but for individuals associated with it to be involved in unlawful and criminal activity."

On Tuesday, Mr Mandelson met senior police and army officers to review security.

Soldiers were sent back onto the streets of Belfast for the first time in two years on Monday night, as rivalry between loyalist gangs erupted into violence.

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

After the murders, Mr Mandelson pledged paramilitary prisoners released early would be returned to jail if they were found in breach of the terms under which they were released.

He said any ex-prisoner who was out was "not totally free". Any individual breaking their licence knew the consequences of their actions, he said.