Weapons seized from a loyalist arms dump will undergo ballistic tests to establish if they were used in recent sectarian murders, it was confirmed today.

Northern Ireland’s new chief constable Hugh Orde today vowed to crack down on the paramilitary chiefs who have orchestrated a series of unsolved sectarian murders.

NORTHERN IRELAND’S new chief constable yesterday vowed to crack down on the paramilitary chiefs who have orchestrated a series of unsolved sectarian murders.

Northern Ireland minister Des Browne will today meet with members of a political group aligned with the UDA.

A senior loyalist today rejected claims by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams that British intelligence has urged the Ulster Defence Association to re-group under one supreme commander.

British intelligence has urged the Ulster Defence Association to regroup under one supreme commander, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams claimed today.

An anti-sectarian rally was taking place in Derry today to protest against the murder of construction worker David Caldwell.

A republican group today threatened to kill staff at two Belfast hospitals.

THOUSANDS of people yesterday stood in silent defiance of the paramilitary gunmen as Belfast united in a bid to end the killing spree.

THE extremes on both sides of the sectarian divide in Northern Ireland "desperately want to kill the peace process and put themselves back centre-stage in dominating the politics

Thousands of people today stood in silent defiance of the paramilitary gunmen as Belfast united in a bid to end the killing spree.

Both sides of the community are gathering in Belfast today to protest against all sectarian violence in the North.

Northern Secretary John Reid has appealed to nationalist and unionist communities to increase their efforts to make the peace process work.

Thousands of people are expected to attend an anti-sectarianism rally in Belfast city centre today.

Johnny Adair, the leader of the notorious UFF ‘C’ company, is “almost certain” to stand for election to the Northern Assembly next May, according to loyalist sources.

Senior trade union officials in the North secretly met with leading members of the Ulster Defence Association last Thursday to demand an end to sectarian attacks, it emerged today.

Unionist threats to topple Northern Ireland’s power-sharing regime will only fuel the blood-lust of sectarian killers, it was claimed tonight.

Trade unionists are meeting Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan today in a bid to find ways in which they can help tackle sectarianism.

Belfast Lord Mayor Alex Maskey has convened a special meeting of Belfast City Council later today to discuss the rising tide of sectarian violence at interface areas in the city.

Unionist politicians and the Police Federation have hit back at the deputy chairman of the North’s policing board after he accused the police of not doing enough to tackle loyalist violence.

HAD Ariel Sharon been born in Northern Ireland, he would probably be First Minister by now.

ALL political leaders in the North must speak with one "united voice" to defend the right to life, mourners at the funeral of murdered Catholic teenager Gerard Lawlor heard yesterday.

Police are not doing enough to prevent loyalist attacks on Catholics in Belfast, it was claimed today.

The Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Patrick Walsh, has accused the Ulster Defence Association of murdering Catholic teenager Gerard Lawlor out or raw sectarian hatred.

The funeral of the 19-year-old Catholic man shot dead on Monday is taking place around now.

Demonstrations are expected to be held across Northern Ireland next week to express revulsion at the murder of Catholic teenager Gerard Lawlor.

Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid said today he will not hesitate to act against Sinn Fein if there was evidence of continued paramilitary activity by the IRA.

Political, civic and religious leaders in Belfast were today invited to attend a meeting with the City’s Sinn Fein Lord Mayor in a bid to address sectarian tensions on the streets.

Three men were today in hospital after being shot in the legs in apparent paramilitary style attacks in a republican area of north Belfast.

SINN FÉIN president Gerry Adams yesterday denounced as unacceptable the British Government's focus on the IRA ceasefire when loyalists have embarked on a "killing spree".

Unionists must move together this week to remove Sinn Fein from the government of Northern Ireland if Prime Minister Tony Blair is unwilling to do so, it was claimed tonight.

The Ulster Defence Association has issued a statement tonight admitting responsibility for the murder of 19-year-old Gerard Lawlor, a Catholic father-of-one, in north Belfast.

The target of a failed loyalist gun attack on Sunday night has revealed that he is thinking of leaving the North following the death of his friend in a similar attack on the same night.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams today denounced as unacceptable the British government’s focus on the IRA ceasefire when loyalists have embarked on a ‘‘killing spree’’.

Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams and Gerry Kelly had a 90-minute meeting this morning with the Northern Secretary John Reid at Hillsborough Castle.

A vigil is to be held at 9pm this evening at the spot where Catholic teenager Gerard Lawlor was gunned down by the UDA.

Talks on the current political and security crisis in Northern Ireland were today taking place between the British government and Sinn Fein.

THE appeal for no retaliation issued by the mother of a 19-year-old Catholic shot dead by Loyalists has set a glowing example for the North's divided community.

THE mother of the Catholic man shot dead by loyalists in north Belfast yesterday appealed for no retaliation and said she would pray for his killers.

Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen has condemned the murder of a Catholic teenager by the UDA in north Belfast last night.

Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly has blamed the Ulster Defence Association for the murder of a Catholic civilian in north Belfast last night.

Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid today called on paramilitary leaders not to plunge Northern Ireland back into the dark days of tit-for-tat murders.

The mother of the Catholic man shot dead by loyalists in north Belfast today appealed for no retaliation.