London police boss clarifies 'paramilitary' RUC remarks

The Commissioner of Metropolitan Police in London has clarified what he meant when he referred to the old RUC in the North as a "paramilitary force".

Unionists had attacked Ian Blair, accusing him of grossly insulting the police.

But Mr Blair has now said that all he meant was that the RUC were heavily supported by the British military in the days before the ceasefire and that he admired their professionalism in tackling terrorism.