Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party have criticised the Northern Secretary’s decision today not to declare the Ulster Defence Association ceasefire was over.
Dr John Reid gave the UDA one last chance to stop its violence but said if there was more UDA-inspired violence in north Belfast tonight, he would sign the order declaring their ceasefire over tomorrow.
Dr Reid had been preparing to make the declaration this afternoon but changed his mind at the last minute after being given assurances by the loyalist leadership that the trouble would stop.
Democratic Unionist Ian Paisley Jnr said Dr Reid's decision was pathetic and accused the British government of presenting the paramilitaries with a licence to kill.
He said: "The reality is the UDA has got off the hook because the government knows that if they specify one paramilitary group, they will have to specify them all."
Sinn Fein said the decision was remarkable.
Party president Mr Gerry Adams said the decision was "another blunder" which was "pandering to the worst elements in unionism".
West Belfast Sinn Fein Northern Assembly member Mr Alex Maskey added: "History tells us the UDA is not an organisation which can be believed."
Mr Alban Maginness, a north Belfast SDLP member at the Northern Ireland Assembly, said his party would be monitoring the situation closely.
Meanwhile, the Acting Northern Ireland First and Deputy First Ministers, Sir Reg Empey and Mr Seamus Mallon, are to meet political representatives from north Belfast in a bid to resolve the community strife.