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UDA 'to decommission by February' UDA 'to decommission by February'
(about 7 hours later)
The International Decommissioning body has told the government that it believes the UDA will decommission its weapons by February 2010. The international body set up to oversee decommissioning in Northern Ireland has said it expects the UDA to decommission its arms by February 2010.
In its latest report, the IICD also confirms that the UVF has completed decommissioning. In its latest report, the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) also confirmed the UVF had completed decommissioning.
The organisation and a smaller associate group, the Red Hand Commando, said three months ago they had destroyed their arsenals. In June, the organisation and associate group, the Red Hand Commando, said they had destroyed their weapons.
The report has been welcomed by the NI Secretary of State, Shaun Woodward. NI Secretary Shaun Woodward said the report was "hugely significant".
The UDA decommissioned a small quantity of weapons in June, but in recent weeks, there has been speculation about splits within the organisation over the issue. "Northern Ireland has been transformed over the past decade and the work of General John de Chastelain and the IICD has helped society to move away from conflict and towards peace," he said.
However the IICD (Independent International Commission on Decommissioning) report says that it has met all five of the mainstream UDA's so-called brigades and has been told there is no difference of opinion.
The report adds that the UDA leaders told them the organisation will complete the process of decommissioning before the end of February.
Weapons
Earlier this year, the Secretary of State warned that legislation, which set a deadline of February 2010 for the completion of decommissioning, would not be renewed.
The end is in sight for the decommissioning process Shaun Woodward
The report also confirms that the UDA's break-away South East Antrim brigade has decommissioned some weapons and explosives.
It has also also given a commitment to complete the process within six months.
Secretary of State Shaun Woodward has described the report as hugely significant.
"Northern Ireland has been transformed over the past decade and the work of General John de Chastelain and the IICD has helped society to move away from conflict and towards peace," Mr Woodward said.
"The end is in sight for the decommissioning process."The end is in sight for the decommissioning process.
"So much has been achieved by the IICD since it was established and I would urge all groups to continue to work with the Commission and put their arms beyond use before the scheme comes to an end in February.""So much has been achieved by the IICD since it was established and I would urge all groups to continue to work with the Commission and put their arms beyond use before the scheme comes to an end in February."
Splits
The UDA decommissioned a small quantity of weapons in June, but in recent weeks, there has been speculation about splits within the organisation over the issue.
However, the IICD report said that it had met all five of the mainstream UDA's so-called brigades and was told there was no difference of opinion.
The report added that the UDA leaders told them the organisation would complete the process of decommissioning before the end of February.
Earlier this year, Mr Woodward warned that legislation, which set a deadline of February 2010 for the completion of decommissioning, would not be renewed.
The report also confirms that the UDA's break-away South East Antrim brigade has decommissioned some weapons and explosives.
It has also given a commitment to complete the process within six months.