The Ulster Democratic Party, the Ulster Defence Association's political wing, has said it now has doubts on whether the Provisional IRA was behind an alleged pipe-bomb attack on a leading loyalist, Mr Johnny Adair, on Monday night.
The party's chairman, Mr John White, said he held republicans responsible for the alleged incident, which is reported to have occurred as Mr Adair was in his car in Beechpark Street, a Protestant area on the interface with Oldpark Road close to north Belfast's peace-line.
Mr Adair said a blast-bomb was thrown at his car by the IRA but his allegation has been dismissed by both nationalists and security sources. "There are suggestions that the Provos would have `done a better job', and I can see where they are coming from. But like in loyalism, there are republican splinter groups or even individuals who could have been responsible. But there is no doubt in my mind that it was republicans," Mr White told The Irish Times. He denied that the incident could have been due to an internal loyalist feud between the UDA and the UVF.
Mr White said he was "annoyed" that doubts had been cast on whether the attack really took place and said he was "99 per cent certain" of its authenticity. "I have talked to the people involved in the incident and I have no doubt that a bomb was thrown at them. Given that there was an attack which had the potential to kill people, I am very concerned that people are not taking it seriously."
He admitted that statements by the security forces, saying they were "extremely sceptical" about the incident and that the device found had never been used by republicans, had contributed to scepticism about the attack. The fact that one of the cars involved was handed over for forensic examination only late last night also looked "suspicious", he conceded.
Mr White said he was not aware of a UDA leaders' summit called to discuss the alleged attack, as reported in yesterday's Belfast Telegraph. There has been speculation that some leading UDA members were unhappy with Mr Adair's media profile and growing unpredictability and harbour doubts about the incident.
"I am not aware of such a meeting taking place at this stage but I would be happy to work with any individuals to encourage them to draw back from the brink and resolve the current tense situation," Mr White said, referring to a spate of sectarian attacks which have strained community relations.
A big loyalist "carnival" including a band parade and the unveiling of new murals is planned on Belfast's Lower Shankill Road this Saturday. Organisers expect thousands of people to attend, giving rise to fears of increased tensions in the area. Mr White said the murals would feature historical scenes and characters, including King Billy and the Queen Mother and would not be of an "offensive nature".
Last month a mural celebrating five UDA atrocities with the inscription, "Wouldn't it be great if it was like this all the time?" was removed by local councillors after complaints by nationalists.