The Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, should clarify the status of the Ulster Defence Association ceasefire, the Alliance party said last night. Mr David Ford, the party leader, said the review was needed following the disappearance of the Shankill loyalist Alan McCullough.
Mr McCullough (21) has not been seen since Wednesday of last week.
He had returned from Britain after fleeing the Shankill area at the height of the loyalist feud following the murder in February of the UDA commander, John Gregg.
Ms Barbara McCullough, the missing man's mother, fears he is dead. Police officers also fear the worst.
The search for Mr McCullough extended to further areas around north Belfast last night.
In a statement yesterday, Mr Ford said: "The UDA declared a 12-month ceasefire as recently as February. This was billed as a tribute to murdered former leader, John Gregg. At that time, many people across the community expressed their scepticism and caution at the statement."
He applauded the two governments' attempts to define what a ceasefire meant in paragraph 13 of the Joint Declaration and insisted that such standards should apply equally to republicans and loyalists.
"The \ government must now address the status of the UDA ceasefire and make a formal determination," he said.
"The early appointment of the International Monitoring Body would certainly help in this regard through shining a spotlight on paramilitary activities," Mr Ford said.