Dissident republicans may be linked to the murders of two men in west and north Belfast yesterday, according to sources.
PSNI detectives have not officially connected the two killings, although police sources said this is one major area of inquiry.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said people should assist the PSNI with its murder investigations.
"If they did not die of natural causes, if they were killed, then anyone with any information should bring that information to the police and should co-operate to bring the perpetrators to justice," he said yesterday.
The body of the first man, said to be in his 30s, was discovered between 3am and 4am yesterday in the Bog Meadows area of west Belfast. He was found shot dead in a car park off the Falls Road near St Gall's GAA club. The man's name was not released last night. He is understood to be originally from the Ardoyne area of north Belfast.
About this time a man with gunshot wounds to his upper body was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital by the driver of a silver saloon-type car. After a PSNI appeal the driver last night made himself known to police.
The second dead man was found in an alleyway at the rear of Elmfield Street in north Belfast at about 8am yesterday. It was unclear whether he was beaten to death or shot dead. It took police considerable time to identify the body such were the extent of his injuries, although it is understood his family was notified last night.
Local priest Rev Aidan Troy, who gave him the last rites, said: "If it had been my own brother I would not have recognised him he was so bad. It was the worst I have ever seen, bar none." He was aware of speculation that the killings were connected. "Each is a total tragedy in itself, but the two together makes it sinister, and that's my worry."
Republican, political and local sources told The Irish Times that the two men appeared to have had connections with dissident republicans or were "on the fringes of dissident republicanism".
"It could have been the settling of scores within the dissidents, or a fallout over some issues," said one source.
Northern Secretary Peter Hain and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern, who discussed the current attempts to restore devolution at Hillsborough Castle yesterday, deplored the murders.
They also characterised the response of Mr Adams as a further demonstration of Sinn Féin's commitment to policing.
"I think the fact that the Sinn Féin leader made it crystal clear that everybody should co-operate and provide information to the police is a very good sign that Sinn Féin are delivering [ on policing]," said Mr Hain. "I think that's another reason why devolution should happen on March 26th."
Sinn Féin was at the centre of controversy over the party's attitude to policing earlier this month when MLA Michelle Gildernew said she would not notify police if she observed a gang of armed dissident republicans intent on paramilitary action.
