UVF expected to make decommissioning announcement

A major announcement is expected later this morning from the UVF to say it has decommissioned all its weapons.

The UDA is also expected to make a statement saying it has begun the process.

It's thought the UVF held back on making the announcement in the hope the UDA would conclude its decommissioning but this has not proved possible.

The UVF appears to be much further down the decommissioning road than the UDA.

The UDA is a larger group with a less centralised structure and has more divisions on whether it should decommission at all.

Nevertheless, it's believed it has begun the process that the UVF has now ended and which the IRA completed nearly four years ago.

An announcement from both groups is expected today with verification from the Independent Decommissioning body under Canadian general, John de Chastelain, later.