Minister to meet UDA chiefs over disarmament demands

A Stormont minister will tonight meet loyalists over her demand for Ulster Defence Association disarmament in return for a dedicated fund to develop their neighbourhoods.

Stormont sources said the Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie will come face to face with UDA leader Jackie McDonald over her threat to withdraw £1.2m (€1.7m) in funds earmarked for the conflict transformation initiative if they do not decommission weapons by October 9.