UDA to take action if nationalists threaten its 'British-ness'

The UDA has issued a belligerent statement to mark Remembrance Day in the North, threatening to take action if nationalists threaten its "British-ness".

Yesterday, the Independent Monitoring Commission suggested London set a deadline for decommissioning after "disappointing" progress.

In strong contrast to last year's UDA statement, which was regarded as conciliatory, this year's is more militant.

It says it remains ready to face the republican threat which, it says, is non-violent but every bit as dangerous and must be combated.

It accuses republicans of racism, ignorance and bigotry.

The Independent Monitoring Commission's Joe Brosnan, a former secretary of the Department of Justice in Dublin, yesterday suggested a deadline be set for loyalists to move forward and decommission.