Associates of paramilitary chief Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair were today given 48 hours to quit his unit before feuding paramilitary bosses launch revenge strikes.
The jailed commander's C Company faced isolation after other Ulster Defence Association groups in west Belfast cut their links with him following the murder of top loyalist John Gregg.
But the UDA's inner council attempted to heighten the pressure by calling on Adair's most trusted men to desert him.
A statement said: "There are members in C Company who have been the backbone of the organisation in its fight against Irish Republican terrorism over this last 30 years.
"Those members are welcome to continue their association but have until 12 p.m. on Thursday February 6th, 2003 to decide their position.
"After this deadline, if they have not decided to move to A or B Company they will be identified as Red Hand Defenders and treated the same, as the enemies of Ulster."
Gregg, one of the UDA brigadiers who expelled Adair from the organisation last September, was shot dead along with another loyalist on Saturday.
The Red Hand Defenders, a cover name for C Company, claimed the murders, which have brought the death toll in the bitter internal feud to four.
With up to 70 detectives involved in a major police operation to stop more killings, fears have now intensified that the bloodshed will continue.
PA