THE Progressive Unionist Party has criticised a call from the Alliance leader, Lord Alderdice, that the British government should review the participation of the fringe loyalists in the political talks which are due to resume at Stormont Castle in Belfast next week. Lord Alderdice yesterday said that the ceasefire called by the Combined Loyalist Military Command "barely exists".
Loyalist paramilitaries have killed two Catholics, seriously injured a third and carried out a series of bomb attacks in the past two months. A hardline break-away group, the Loyalist Volunteer Force, is believed to have been responsible for many of the incidents.
The Alliance leader urged the UDP and PUP to distance themselves from the actions of the LVF, adding: "Ceasefires have got to be in word and deed. It is clear there is a loyalist ceasefire in word but not in deed. That is not good enough."
However, a PUP Belfast city councillor, Mr Billy Hutchinson, insisted that the loyalist parties were playing by the rules. They could not be held responsible for the actions of the LVF, he said. The PUP and the UDP would have to be at talks if a peace settlement was to be reached, he added.
The CLMC is an umbrella organisation for the UVF, UDA and the Red Hand Commando. The LVF opposes the CLMC ceasefire and its stance on the peace process. The UDP leader, Mr Gary McMichael, insisted yesterday that the CLMC ceasefire was still intact.
The North's security minister, Mr Adam Ingram, was yesterday urged to proscribe the LVF, which planted a bomb in Dundalk at the weekend and is believed to have been responsible for the murder of a leading GAA figure, Mr Sean Brown, a fortnight ago.
The DUP's security spokesman, Mr Ian Paisley jnr, said: "All terrorist groups, including the LVF, should be banned."