UDP to fold after fall-out with UDA

The Ulster Democratic Party is to disband after a fall out with loyalist paramilitaries over backing for the Good Friday Agreement.

The party, which was formed as the political wing of the Ulster Defence Association, announced today that it was folding "without rancour or ill-will".

The decision followed a series of splits and tensions over acts of violence by the UDA, even though they claimed to be still on ceasefire and supportive of the peace process.