Members of the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) have endorsed a decision by their leadership to withdraw from the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC). It was first reported last week that the UFF had split from the loyalist umbrella group, which also represents the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the Red Hand Commando. Yesterday, in a statement, the UFF said that the decision had been fully ratified by "officers and volunteers".
Mr John White, of the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP), which is linked to the UFF, said that the statement was intended to clarify the situation. Henceforth, the UFF would be following its own agenda, he said.
The split arose because of a rift which has been causing strains within the CLMC for some time. Tensions, including difficulties over perceived inaction by the UFF to bring to book Billy Wright, the dissident Portadown loyalist, have led to the splintering of the umbrella organisation.
Further strains were caused by the refusal of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), which is linked to the UVF and Red Hand Commando, to participate in a recent UDP rally.
When the split in the CLMC was first confirmed, senior loyalists, including Mr Gusty Spence, said that they would strive to ensure loyalist unity. But their efforts to ease the stresses have failed. According to the UFF statement, the CLMC, which called the loyalist ceasefire of October 1994, is now "formally disbanded".
The UFF said that it was issuing its statement in order to "clarify the situation and to refute any speculation of attempts to reconstitute the CLMC".
Mr White said: "This statement is to clarify the UFF decision. It looks as if the CLMC is finished completely."
Other loyalists, however, have emphasised that the collapse of the CLMC should not pose a threat to the loyalist ceasefire. Mr Gary McMichael, the leader of the UDP, has said that there could be no question about the commitment of loyalists to their ceasefire.
Mr David Ervine, the chief spokesman for the PUP, has said that the UDP and his party would continue to work together on behalf of the unionist people. The relationship between the PUP and the UDP remained strong, he added.
