The Ulster Unionist Assembly member, Mr Michael McGimpsey, has welcomed a statement by the loyalist paramilitary organisation, the Ulster Freedom Fighters. While the statement said the UFF would defer appointing an interlocutor to the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning until the IRA had appointed its, Mr McGimpsey said he was confident that another important piece of the jigsaw would soon be in place.
Yesterday's statement said, in full:
"The leadership of the UFF has given consideration to political developments of the past week and recognises the potential for progress. However, reported comments from the USA by senior republicans have cast some doubt upon commitments given by the IRA. This has made it necessary for the UFF leadership to defer its decision on the appointment of an interlocutor to liase with the IICD (Independent International Commission on Decommissioning) until after the IRA has met its commitments in this regard."