The Red Hand Defenders have lifted their death threats against Northern Ireland's Catholic teachers and postal workers after meeting with unionist politicians.
The loyalist group said in a statement that it stands by its earlier announcement that its would be disbanding from midnight. "All death threats to Catholic postal workers and teachers have been lifted indefinitely," the statement read.
Last night, the UDA/Ulster Freedom Fighters said it "unreservedly" condemned the death threats issued and ordered the Red Hand Defenders to stand down within 14 days. The Red Hand Defenders is widely seen as a cover name used by the UDA.
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This morning’s statement was issued to the BBC using a previously recognised codeword and said: "From midnight tonight [Wednesday] the Red Hand Defenders will stand down as the UFF ordered".
Leaders of the postal workers and teachers have welcomed the announcement, but said the threats should never have been made in the first place.
Mr Eamonn O'Kane, general secretary designate of the NASUWT teaching union, welcomed the statement, but added: "I think teachers and postal workers are entitled to feel a degree of scepticism. It is a disgrace that the threats were issued in the first place."
"Having said that, obviously I hope very, very much that things can return to normal in schools in north Belfast, including Holy Cross, so that teachers can get on with the task they are charged with, which is educating the young," he added.
Mr Peter Hamill, branch secretary of the Communication Workers Union, said: "This is excellent news, I am delighted, absolutely delighted." His members had already decided at a mass meeting to call off an indefinite stoppage after assurances from a police chief that he was "90 per cent sure" the threats had been bogus.
Nationalists were this morning sceptical about the claim from the organisation which initially claimed responsibility for the killing of postal worker Daniel McColgan.
The SDLP MLA for North Belfast, Mr Alex Attwood, said this morning that he believed the UDA were engaging in a game of "smoke and mirrors" with the statements.
"They are trying to cover their tracks and distance themselves from what is happening because everybody knows the UFF, the UDA, the Red Hand Defenders are one and the same group of people whatever name they call themselves. Given that it is the same people, this does not change anything and people will treat their claims with caution.
"If there are further statements by that group of people withdrawing threats against everybody including postal workers, teachers and the Catholic community, then that would be more of a step forward."
PA