Loyalist feud 'could soon end'

A breakthrough in the feud between loyalist paramilitaries could be announced within the next few days, sources have told the BBC.

Members of the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) and Ulster Defence Association (UDA) have again met to try to end the bloody dispute which has centred on east Belfast.

Since the feud began last month, there have been nine shootings, including three murders.

Within a few days there is a belief that the two groups could well settle their differences and issue a statement to that effect

Brian Rowan
BBC security editor

Police have set up a special unit to investigate the feud. Up to 25 officers are working full-time on the dispute.

A police spokesman said there was concern the feud could spread from Belfast to other areas of Northern Ireland.

BBC Northern Ireland security editor Brian Rowan said: "I have learned that there was a meeting in a hotel on Tuesday involving senior figures in the two organisations involved in this recent feud - the LVF and the UDA.

"Three representatives from each of those organisations were involved in this meeting, including for the first time senior figures from east Belfast, where most of the violence has occurred in recent weeks.

"The issues are not resolved at this stage - there is no final decision at this stage.

"But what I am being told by sources - that are very close to those talks - is that within a few days there is a belief that the two groups could well settle their differences and issue a statement to that effect."

'Traced back'

Following a meeting earlier this month, the LVF indicated a willingness to enter into mediation, while reserving the right to defend its members.

The Ulster Political Research Group - which provides political analysis to the UDA - then responded.

Jim Gray escaped murder attempt

It said a space should be created to allow a solution to be found which could end the violence.

The latest loyalist feud can be traced back to two shootings in September - the murder of LVF member Stephen Warnock, and the wounding of Jim Gray - a senior UDA member in east Belfast.

Then, a 41-year-old man, Geoffrey Thomas Gray, was shot dead at Ravenhill Avenue, also in east Belfast.

A third man, Alexander McKinley, died a week after being shot in south east Belfast.