The Ulster Democratic Party leader, Mr Gary McMichael, has described speculation over whether the UDA is to appoint an intermediary to deal with the decommissioning body as "extremely unhelpful".
Mr McMichael was reacting to reports in Belfast yesterday that the UDA was resisting efforts to nominate an intermediary to liaise with Gen John de Chastelain's Commission on Decommissioning. "I am not aware of any turmoil or splits," the UDP leader said.
There is also speculation that there is disagreement within the UDA leadership over who should act as its go-between if it does appoint a representative. Names being mentioned as possible interlocutors include senior loyalists Michael Stone and Johnny Adair.
The UDP has urged the UDA to make the appointment and it was expected to announce today that it is to liaise with the decommissioning body.
Mr McMichael indicated this could yet happen. "I have no doubt that a decision will be taken and we will find out very quickly what that is," he said. "The speculation about splits and resistance and who would be appointed is all extremely unhelpful." Meanwhile, Progressive Unionist Party Assembly member Mr Billy Hutchinson, who is acting as the UVF's representative, yesterday met the decommissioning body. He said the meeting went well.
Mr Hutchinson said there was a loyalist suspicion that to maintain Sinn Fein in government the IRA may stage a "one-off" decommissioning event. This would be viewed as a "cynical ploy". He indicated there would be little movement from the UVF and the Red Hand Commando until loyalists knew what the IRA was going to do on arms.
"Even if the IRA does [decommission] it doesn't necessarily mean the UVF will," he told BBC Radio Ulster.
Mr Hutchinson said that "morally" it was proper that there should be paramilitary movement on decommissioning, but there were a number of factors militating against that happening at this stage such as continuing republican threats and attacks on PUP members.
