UVF, 1st 'Loyalist' group to decommission soon?, page 1

It looks like there is some more great news for us in the 6 counties; news some of us thought (until even very very recently) we might not see for a long long time and maybe even never see.

It's such a genuine pleasure to see the progess about and in NI these days.

Happy days (here's hoping).

SENIOR loyalist sources say UVF decommissioning is likely if the current political impasse is broken.

The paramilitary group has drafted a statement of intent to decommission and to end its operations, but it will be issued only if there is agreement between the DUP and Sinn Fein. David Ervine, the leader of the Progressive Unionist party (PUP) who died last week, played a pivotal role in achieving the draft declaration.

Although the UVF had broken off contact with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD), Ervine met the group several times in recent months.

There are hopes that the UDA, which has been in talks with the UVF on the issue, will also decommission its weapons if the political situation improves.