Statement by UVF paramilitary group

(Reuters) - The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), the most lethal of Northern Ireland's Protestant paramilitary gangs, said on Thursday it would put its weapons beyond reach and adopt a "non-military" role. Following are excerpts from the statement:

Following a direct engagement with all Units and Departments of our organisation, the leadership of the Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commando today make public the outcome of our three-year consultation process.

We do so against a backdrop of increasing community acceptance that the mainstream Republican offensive has ended; that the six principles upon which our ceasefire was predicated are maintained; that the principle of consent has been firmly established and thus, that the Union remains safe.

We welcome recent developments in securing stable, durable democratic structures in Northern Ireland and accept as significant, support by the mainstream Republican Movement of the constitutional status quo.

Commensurate with these developments, as of twelve midnight, Thursday 3rd May 2007, the Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commando will assume a non-military, civilianised, role.

All recruitment has ceased; military training has ceased; targeting has ceased and all intelligence rendered obsolete. All Active Service Units have been deactivated; all Ordnance has been put beyond reach and the IICD (Independent International Commission on Decommissioning) instructed accordingly.

We encourage our Volunteers to embrace the challenges which continue to face their communities and support their continued participation in non-military capacities. We reaffirm our opposition to all criminality and instruct our Volunteers to cooperate fully with the lawful authorities.

We state unequivocally, that any Volunteer engaged in criminality does so in direct contravention of Brigade Command and thus we welcome any recourse through due process of law.

All Volunteers are further encouraged to show support for credible restorative justice projects so that they, with their respective communities, may help eradicate criminality and anti-social behaviour in our society.