Trimble attacks Police over handling of 'hit list'

The Ulster Unionist Party leader, David Trimble, says he is concerned that Conservative politicians named on an alleged IRA hit list were only warned weeks after it was found.

Speaking in Belfast today, Mr Trimble said the police knew about the list when they made an arrest two weeks ago, but only began warning people who were on the list last Friday.

"We have concerns about how about this information was handled. Clearly the information was available to the public several weeks ago and only came into public knowledge last Friday. That is really where our concerns lie".

The UUP has also expressed concern about newspaper reports that the IRA bought Russian rifles during its first phase of decommissioning.

Sinn Fein has dismissed the reports as "absolute nonsense", but Ulster Unionist Stephen King said:

"This is something that’s got to be resolved. On the one hand we see the IRA decommissioning and that’s very welcome, but on the other hand we get these contrary indications - things like Colombia, things like Castlereagh - and we really need the republican movement to make its position clear."