Loyalist paramilitaries must call it a day and begin disarmament, Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said today.
In his first speech as leader to an Ulster Unionist Party conference, the former Stormont Economy Minister told delegates in Belfast the IRA had suffered a military defeat.
He said that meant loyalists no longer had any excuse to maintain their paramilitary structures.
The East Belfast Assembly member said: "Too many lives have been lost as rival groupings battle for supremacy.
"The pain they caused, and continue to cause, must end. Today, I make this direct appeal to these groups: call it a day!
"Begin the job of decommissioning the fire power that has brought so much misery.
"The republican edifice you swore to tear down is severely weakened.
"Northern Ireland is moving on apace and loyalist paramilitaries need to recognise that they no longer have any reason to maintain their structures.
"Engage with the Decommissioning Commissioning, place your arms beyond use and commit yourselves to exclusively peaceful and democratic means."
Sir Reg said the IRA, which completed its disarmament programme almost four weeks ago, had done so in a curmudgeonly and mealy-mouthed way.
He added: "Let's be clear about this: the Provos have suffered a military defeat.
"No victorious so-called army hands over weapons to a commission established by its enemy.
"Oh yes, they'll still be around, doing a bit of enforcing here, a bit of smuggling there.
"But generally speaking, they'll become political just as others have and we in the Ulster Unionist Party and the DUP will have to deal with that reality.
"Let me say it again: The Provisional IRA has failed."