Ahern welcomes UFF and UDA statements

The Taoiseach is describing today's statement by the Ulster Defence Association as ‘significant’.

Bertie Ahern made the comments following the organisation's commitment to stand down its military wing, the UFF, from midnight tonight.

He said it's important to remember the victims of atrocities over the years and he acknowledged the input of those working for peace including Martin McAleese

The Taoiseach said the statement signals a further step towards ending all paramilitarism in Northern Ireland.

While, the UDA has announced it is to stand down all its and put its guns beyond use, it would not, however, it said be decommissioning its weapons.

The organisation, the largest of the two main loyalist paramilitary groups in the North, also said it would be stamping out drug-dealing within its ranks.

Speaking at a 1,000 strong Remembrance Day rally in south Belfast, Colin Halliday, a spokesman for the Ulster Political Research Group, linked to the UDA read out a statement on its behalf.

It said the organization believed the war was over. They added that if loyalist rights or the union with Britain was threatened, it would defend itself only by non-violent means.

It would be putting all its weapons beyond use, said the statement, while those who had joined its ranks for crime and self gain would be rooted out, including drug dealers.