UVF urged to engage with arms decommissioning body

The UVF is being urged to engage with the international decommissioning body to discuss ways to destroy its arsenal.

The loyalist group announced an end to paramilitarism and criminality today and said its weaponry had been "put beyond reach".

However, the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning has expressed concern that the organisation seems to have decided to deal with the weapons on its own.

"Without the commission's involvement, their action on arms does not meet the requirement of the decommissioning legislation and the agreement reached by the parties in the Belfast Agreement," a spokesman said today.

"We are prepared to meet with the UVF representative to discuss how we can work together in dealing with arms."