Loyalist sources in the North are reporting a split between senior figures in the UDA. According to the sources there have been growing disagreements within the UDA about its attitude to the Drumcree protest.
It is said this was exacerbated by the decision of Mr Gary McMichael, leader of the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP), which is close to the UDA, to attend an interdenominational service at the Catholic church on Garvaghy Road earlier this week.
It is understood that some leading UDA figures outside Belfast want the organisation to take a strong line in support of the Orangemen at Drumcree during this year's planned demonstration.
However, UDA figures in Belfast have indicated that they do not want any street protests or disruption in loyalist areas. It is also understood that the Belfast UDA leaders support the Belfast Agreement and may, in the future, agree to decommission arms if there is a sufficiently strong gesture from republicans.
There have been other tensions among loyalist paramilitaries in recent times following the murder of the leading Portadown loyalist, Richard Jameson, on January 10th.
Following his murder two other young loyalists, Andrew Robb and David McIlwaine, were killed in Tandragee, Co Armagh. Then on May 26th last another man, Martin Taylor, was shot dead in an attack on a prominent loyalist in north Belfast.
Much of the violence has resulted from tension between the UVF and the LVF.
