The UVF is being blamed for an attack in north Belfast on a prominent loyalist who has been critical of its policies.
Mr Jackie Mahood sustained minor injuries when gunmen opened fire on his car early yesterday.
The shooting happened at 12.15 a.m. in Laverns Drive at the back of the taxi firm run by Mr Mahood just off the Crumlin Road.
He was driving away from the premises when the attack took place. Several shots hit the car and Mr Mahood was injured by shrapnel.
A woman colleague whom he was driving home was uninjured. The woman is related to a leading UVF man who was shot dead by the IRA several years ago.
Mr Mahood managed to drive to the Tennent Street RUC station. He was taken to hospital where he was treated for shrapnel wounds to his back and shoulder. He was later discharged.
This is the second attempt on Mr Mahood's life. Both took place at his place of work. He was shot twice in the head in November 1997, an attack for which the UVF were also blamed. Yesterday's shooting has been linked to tensions between pro and anti-agreement loyalist groups. A former UVF prisoner, Mr Mahood was also a member of the paramilitary group's political wing, the Progressive Unionist Party. He was a delegate on its talks's team at Stormont but resigned in 1996 over the role of the Government in negotiations. Mr Mahood blamed the UVF for yesterday's attack and accused it of targeting anyone who disagreed with its political agenda.
"I have no doubt that they were responsible and I question how they are able to run about so freely. It is ironic that the UVF has a `no conflict' policy with republicans since 1994 but are trying to kill loyalists," he said .
"I believe they are being assisted by some people with a personal grudge against me."
The PUP's chief spokesman, Mr David Ervine, said he knew nothing about the attack nor who was responsible.
However, Mr John White of the Ulster Democratic Party, the UDA's political wing, blamed the UVF for the shooting and called for an end to such incidents.
"I think it is reprehensible that loyalists should be killing loyalists," he said. "This shooting was the work of those who tried to kill Mr Mahood before - the UVF." An RUC spokesman yesterday said a motive for the attack had not been established.