UDA and UFF to stand down all units at midnight tonight

The UDA has announced that its military wing, the UFF, is standing down all of its units from midnight tonight.

It made the statement at a Remembrance Day March in the Sandy Row area of Belfast, the domain of its progressive leader Jackie McDonald .

All weaponry will be put beyond use and all military intelligence will be destroyed.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has warmly welcomed the statement describing it as a significant step.