The Ulster Freedom Fighters yesterday suspended its threat to break its ceasefire but nationalist politicians are still warning Catholics to be vigilant. The UFF, a cover-name for the UDA, had threatened to shoot anyone attacking Protestant homes.
The paramilitary group had accused republicans of "ethnic cleansing" in north and west Belfast. However, in a statement yesterday it called for dialogue between community activists.
"We state clearly that attacks on Protestant homes cannot be tolerated but affirm our desire to have this problem resolved peacefully. The onus is on community leaders to engage seriously to find a resolution of the issue," the UFF said.
The Ulster Democratic Party, the UDA's political wing, had publicly called for the threat to be lifted and the UFF said its lobbying had been influential.
However, a Sinn Fein Assembly member, Mr Gerry Kelly, said the UFF statement should never have been made. "Its withdrawal is a tacit acknowledgment by the UFF that they were wrong. Despite this apparent public withdrawal of the threat to kill Catholics, I would urge everyone to remain vigilant."
He claimed there was evidence that loyalist groups in north and west Belfast - in particular the UFF - were "intent on stirring up sectarian attacks on Catholic residents, particularly around planned Orange marches".
There have been nightly disturbances this week on the peaceline in west Belfast in advance of today's Orange Order march on the nationalist Springfield Road.
An SDLP Assembly member, Mr Alex Attwood, described the UFF statement as "progress". He noted that the threat had only been suspended and called for its withdrawal. He urged the UFF to help reduce tension in peaceline areas by "placing some distance between the UFF and Orange Order parades in the coming weeks". Mr John White, the chairman of the UDA's political wing, the Ulster Democratic Party, described the UFF's statement as positive. He said it provided an opportunity to resolve the issue of sectarian disturbances peacefully. "We will now try to organise a series of meetings as soon as possible. At the same time, I would appeal to the UFF leadership to withdraw its threat completely."
Mr David Ervine of the Progressive Unionist Party, the UVF's political wing, also welcomed the statement. "Wisdom has prevailed," he said. However, DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, claimed the UFF had issued the threat in the first place because it wanted to secure nominations to the North's civic forum for its political wing.
"These ceasefires are funny things. They can come and go at any time," he said.