Pressure is increasing on the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, to declare that the UDA's ceasefire is over after further loyalist attacks across the North.
The SDLP said it was clear that in some areas the UDA ceasefire was "completely nonexistent". Sinn Fein condemned Dr Reid for failing to state publicly his position on the UDA ceasefire.
Two pipe-bombs exploded outside the home of a Catholic family in Ballynahinch, Co Down, yesterday. Another two devices were defused in Ballycastle, Co Antrim.
A large blast incendiary device was discovered on Tuesday in a car-park in Ballycastle, where large crowds were attending the annual Auld Lammas Fair. The Red Hand Defenders claimed responsibility for the incident - the UDA has in the past used the RHD as a cover name.
Security sources said they believed dissident UVF elements were responsible for the carbomb, which was not sanctioned at leadership level.
"At this stage everything points to the UVF," a source said. UDA sources also insisted their organisation was not involved. "This was the UVF's work. It has nothing to do with us," one source said.
The UDA's political wing, the Ulster Democratic Party, said it wished to "completely deny" UDA involvement. However, Mr David Ervine, chief spokesman for the Progressive Unionist Party, the UVF's political wing, said he rejected any suggestion of UVF involvement. He challenged the security forces to justify the claims by arrests and charges.
The SDLP's Mr Sean Farren, Employment Minister, said he was certain of UDA involvement and the British government would have to acknow ledge that the UDA ceasefire was over in parts of the North. "For a long time, certainly in north, east and south Antrim, the activities of loyalist para militaries - associated under one umbrella or another with the UDA - suggest that their ceasefire in those areas is completely non-existent."
Mr Philip McGuigan of Sinn Fein blamed the recent attacks on the UDA. "While the UDA have been involved in nightly attacks against the nationalist population, the British Secretary of State, John Reid, has remained silent. I call upon him to make public his position on the UDA ceasefire."
The Republican Sinn Fein president, Mr Ruairi O Bradaigh, said the British government should publicly admit the UDA ceasefire was over. "After 31/2 years, the 1998 Stormont agreement has been shown to be unworkable. The nationalist nightmare continues," he said.
Speaking after a meeting with Sinn Fein yesterday, the Northern Ireland Office Minister, Mr Des Browne, condemned recent loyalist violence. He said he remained in regular contact with Dr Reid, who is on holiday, and with the RUC Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan.
"It is important we establish exactly who is behind these attacks," he said. "The implications for those loyalist groups engaged in these despicable acts - implications that must be well understood by the UDA and others - will be very serious."