The Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, has met senior loyalist politicians to discuss the ongoing feud between paramilitary groups. The talks at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, involved the Progressive Unionist Party and the Ulster Democratic Party, the political wings of the UVF and UDA.
Sources insisted that the talks were not a new initiative and did not signify an end to the feud. None of those taking part made any statements to the media afterwards.
Meanwhile, the SDLP has accused unionist councillors in Belfast of "sectarian solidarity" for refusing to censure the Ulster Democratic Party deputy lord mayor, Mr Frank McCoubrey, who recently appeared on stage with masked UDA gunmen.
The incident occurred at a rally on the Shankill Road a fortnight ago. The SDLP said Mr McCoubrey's behaviour had been disgraceful. On Monday night, the council decided not to censure him. It refused to support a motion proposed by Mr David Alderdice of the Alliance Party.
Following a heated three-hour debate, councillors instead agreed to a highly amended motion, from Mr Bob Stoker of the Ulster Unionist Party, which made no mention of Mr McCoubrey.
The amended motion noted "the recent upsurge in paramilitary violence, in particular the intimidation of people in their homes". It called on members "to work to improve the political context whereby community violence becomes a thing of the past".
Despite repeated requests from nationalist councillors, Mr McCoubrey refused to address the chamber during the debate.
The original Alliance resolution stated that the council "deplored" the deputy lord mayor's "presence at a paramilitary show of strength and calls on all councillors to dissociate themselves from all paramilitary organisations".
Mr Alderdice said: "I didn't relish tabling this motion, but as a group we felt there was no alternative. What he did was inappropriate. He has damaged the position of deputy lord mayor; it has been brought into disrepute."
SDLP councillor Mr Alban Maginness said Mr McCoubrey had failed to condemn the rally or explain his actions. "He is a discredit to the post of deputy lord mayor," he said.
Mr McCoubrey yesterday said he hoped the loyalist feud could be ended before any more people were killed.