There was "no foundation" to newspaper reports of a non-aggression pact between feuding paramilitary groups, a senior loyalist politician has said.
Mr John White, chairman of the Ulster Democratic Party, which has links to the Ulster Defence Association, said that to his knowledge there had not been discussions to establish a non-aggression pact between the UDA and the Ulster Volunteer Force.
Mr David Ervine, of the Progressive Unionist Party, which has links to the UVF, said he would have nothing to do with such a pact. A non-aggression pact would be "abhorrent to all I believe in". His job was to work towards an actual peace.
Meanwhile, a Free Presbyterian minister has accused the British government of letting the feud spiral out of control. The Rev Alan Smylie, from Shankill, west Belfast, said the authorities seemed to be abdicating their responsibility to protect people.