The leaders of a dissident faction of the loyalist Ulster Defence Association have left Belfast, averting what could have developed into a violent feud.
Members of the North Belfast UDA who have been opposing the mainstream organisation left the city in the middle of the night, with the help of police, after a confrontation on the streets of north Belfast.
Pastor Brian Madden
Alan McClean, a close supporter of the jailed Shoukri brothers, assumed control of the UDA in North Belfast last month against the wishes of the UDA leadership after it stripped the Shoukris of their command.
And after holding talks with UDA chiefs, the North Belfast unit McClean left behind tonight said a full resolution had been reached.
It said in a statement: "After the meeting it was agreed that North Belfast would now engage in a process of electing its own leadership.
"The members of North Belfast are glad to be back in the mainstream of the organisation where they can now play a full and meaningful role in the transition required to bring about positive change to our communities.
"It is now important to bring stability to our community, reduce fear and tensions and draw a line in the sand so our people no longer fear each other."
In recent days there have been growing prospects of a bloody confrontation between the two sides, but early this morning in scenes reminiscent of the flight of supporters of Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair from the Shankill Road several years ago, the isolated faction quit the city.
Acting Assistant Chief Constable Wesley Wilson said he was now more hopeful than he had been yesterday that a full scale confrontation between the factions could now be avoided.
Those who fled were given safe passage by police with their families in a convoy of cars. They are believed to have headed towards Dublin to catch a ferry or flight to Britain.
The dramatic events follow a stand off between rival factions on the streets of north Belfast with police stuck in the middle. Despite fears of trouble, violence was averted.
Local pastor Brian Madden said a bloodbath was averted last night when he managed to persuade McClean to leave Northern Ireland.
He said: "I saw machine guns on people's shoulders, hand guns. I was taken into a house where people were pointing guns, swinging guns around.
"They were very angry and I was very, very fearful and I pleaded with him to leave."
Mr Madden added: "After about 20 minutes of heated discussion, they started to drop the bullets out of the guns and he agreed that he would leave."
He said he informed the Inner Council of the UDA that McClean was going and praised their "massive restraint" in pulling back from confrontation and dispersing their supporters.