The Loyalist Volunteer Force will decommission a quantity of arms within the next few days, a senior LVF source said last night. Speaking in Portadown, the LVF source indicated that a "small but significant quantity of arms" would shortly be handed over to Gen John de Chastelain's decommissioning body.
The source would not say where or when the weapons hand-over would take place, insisting that the move was imminent. He said whatever quantity of weapons was handed in by the Loyalist Volunteer Force, "it must be met with a reciprocal gesture by the other main paramilitary groups on a ratio of a 10 to 1 basis".
The source said "that it is an essential requirement which will indicate to the people of Northern Ireland the commitment of other paramilitaries to the agreement."
The LVF decision to proceed with decommissioning had been taken despite the remanding in custody of a leading Portadown loyalist, Mr Mark Fulton.
The LVF source said Mr Fulton "played a significant role in convincing the LVF's ruling army council to adopt its current strategy. He was engaged in working towards this objective when he was arrested by the RUC . . . yesterday he was adamant that decommissioning should and must proceed."
Meanwhile, police in Lurgan have said violence in the nationalist Lurgantarry estate on Tuesday night was orchestrated.
Trouble flared around 10 p.m. after police and army units responded to a telephone call saying there was an explosive device in a stolen car abandoned in the estate.
While residents were being evacuated the police and soldiers came under attack. A crowd of youths threw petrol bombs, stones and ball bearings at the security forces, who responded by firing three baton rounds into the crowd.
The car was found to contain a gas cylinder and items assembled into a hoax bomb, but no explosives were found.