A man was shot dead in a bar in south Belfast this evening in what is believed to be part of an ongoing loyalist feud.
The victim is understood to have been attacked at the Kimberley Bar in the city's upper Ormeau Road area.
The pub is in a loyalist area of the city and tonight's shooting follows a series of tit-for-tat attacks between rival loyalist paramilitary factions.
The so-called Ulster Freedom Fighters admitted this evening carrying out the attack.
Police immediately sealed off part of south Belfast in a major follow-upoperation to track down the killers.
The dead man, a former prisoner came from the neighbouring Donegal Road area.
Rival factions have been involved in a feud for the last sixmonths following the expulsion from the UDA of Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair.
Adair's associates tonight categorically denied any involvement in theshooting.
Mr John White said: "I cannot see how this can be associated with the feud. Itseems this man was shot by one of his own in south Belfast.
"He was well-known all over Belfast. He's a Loyalist, a member of the UDA andhe was shot for no other reason."
Northern Ireland Office Minister Mr Des Browne condemned the shooting.