UVF paramilitaries end armed campaign

By Anne Cadwallader

BELFAST (Reuters) - The Ulster Volunteer Force, the most lethal of Northern Ireland's Protestant paramilitary groups, said on Thursday it would put "beyond reach" weapons it used against Catholics opposed to British rule in the province.

"As of midnight, Thursday 3rd May 2007, the Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commando will assume a non military, civilianised, role," the UVF said in a statement.

"All ordnance has been put beyond reach," it added.

The UVF also said it had ended recruitment and military training and instructed members to obey the rule of law.

The group, which killed more people than any other Protestant gang during 30 years of sectarian conflict in the province, said its move followed disarmament by the opposing and predominantly Catholic Irish Republican Army.

London and Dublin welcomed the news five days before politicians from opposite ends of Northern Ireland's sectarian divide begin running the province's day-to-day affairs.

"We need to see how today's announcement is translated into action," a spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair said.

Irish premier Bertie Ahern said the move was "potentially very important" but joined others in pointing out that putting weapons beyond reach was not the same as disarming.