UDA rules out agreeing deadline for disarmament

THE Ulster Defence Force (UDA) has insisted that it will pursue its own plan to end paramilitarism and not adhere to any deadline.

The nationalist SDLP’s Margaret Ritchie said she was disappointed after the UDA issued a brief statement responding to her demand that they meet a disarmament deadline which she set for next Tuesday.

The social development minister has threatened to withdraw £1.2 million (€1.7m) in funding for a regeneration project for loyalist communities, which the UDA has promoted if the organisation does not go out of business.