Politicians have expressed their "shock" and "disgust" at the killing of two young men, Mr Andrew Robb (19) and Mr David McIlwaine (18), whose bodies were discovered in a country lane near Tandragee, Co Armagh, on Saturday morning. Their deaths appear to be linked to an internal loyalist feud between the UVF and the LVF in the Portadown area, although the RUC yesterday insisted that the people arrested in connection with the killings were not being held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, said he was deeply shocked.
"This is a horrific tragedy, most especially for their families. It is imperative that there should be no retaliation and that violence be definitively removed from the life of Northern Ireland," he said, "All parties need to concentrate their utmost energy on restoring the political institutions at the earliest possible moment."
The Ulster Unionist MLA for Newry and Armagh, Mr Danny Kennedy, said the killings came as a grim reminder of a past Northern Ireland hoped it had left behind.
"Everybody in Northern Ireland thought we had left these types of incident behind, and it will send a chill down people's spines to see an event of this nature in a quiet country area like this," he added.
An Ulster Unionist councillor in nearby Craigavon, Mr Jonathan Bell, unequivocally condemned the killings and called for no retaliation.
"I appeal to those involved in this activity or indeed considering retaliation for this activity in God's name to desist and stay their hand," he said.
The DUP MLA for Newry and Armagh, Mr Paul Berry, who lives in Tandragee, described the incident as "very sinister". He said he knew both victims and could honestly say they had no paramilitary connections. "It was a cowardly act carried out by sick people in this community, and I think it is time the police clamped down on the people responsible," Mr Berry added.
The DUP MLA for Upper Bann, Mr Mervyn Carrick, said the name of Protestantism had been sullied by the killings.
The leader of the Ulster Democratic Party, which is linked to a loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Freedom Fighters, which are not involved in the feud, appealed for calm following the deaths.
Mr Gary McMichael added: "If this turns out to be an internecine killing, and I say if, then I would appeal to whoever is responsible to bring this to an end. Because they must remember that the fruits that can be gained from this peace process far outweigh any thought that this kind of activity can serve a purpose."