Extra British troops have been deployed in north Belfast in an attempt to prevent further loyalist pipe-bomb attacks on Catholic homes.
The decision to draft British military reinforcements to back the RUC was taken amid heightening fears of fatalities in the attacks by the UDA.
The paramilitary group is formally on ceasefire but security sources insist some of its units are responsible. There have been more than 40 loyalist attacks in the North so far this year. No one has been seriously injured but there are fears it is only a matter of time before that changes. Announcing the decision to increase security, RUC assistant chief constable Alan McQuillan said the force was doing everything possible to catch those responsible.
"Some individuals (within the UDA) are pursuing their own agenda. There are all sorts of motivations but primarily most of the attacks are sectarian." He said "large numbers" of military personnel were available. SDLP Assembly member for north Belfast, Mr Alban Maginness, whose offices were targeted by the bombers last month, has offered to hold direct talks with the loyalist paramilitaries. "I am prepared to meet with anybody who can exercise influence which is vitally important in the present very difficult situation," he said.
Another pipe-bomb, found outside a house in Ardoyne, north Belfast, yesterday, was defused by the British army.
Sinn Fein said additional British troops on the street would not help. The party's Assembly member for north Belfast, Mr Gerry Kelly, said: "Putting the army into nationalist areas is going to make this situation worse, not better."
The Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Patrick Walsh, said he regretted the deployment but it indicated the seriousness of the situation.
The Ulster Democratic Party, the UDA's political wing, last night insisted the paramilitary group was not involved and alleged a smear campaign was being waged against it.