Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- [Kingdom Loyalist Association] Monday July 30 11:30 AM ET Loyalists Threaten More N.Irish Attacks By Martin Cowley BELFAST (Reuters) - Protestant loyalists on Monday claimed responsibility for a roadside murder that has inflamed Northern Ireland's deteriorating security climate -- and threatened more to come. The victim, Gavin Brett, was an 18 year-old Protestant. The gunman had apparently hoped to kill a Roman Catholic as he sprayed shots from a car at a group of youths in north Belfast late on Sunday. Another youth was hit in the ankle. ``Gavin was a very loving kid, like many others,�� said his uncle, Peter Brett. ``He was ready for a wonderful future. I just cannot believe that he is gone.�� The shooting -- which shocked both of the province's rival communities -- added fuel to a violent surge that has flared nightly in flashpoint zones in Belfast, aggravated by a spate of small bombings elsewhere, many of them aimed at Catholics. Protestant leader David Trimble, the province's chief advocate of continued rule from Britain, warned that loyalist violence was bringing untold misery to thousands of people. ``I call upon those with influence with loyalism to use it to bring an end to this madness. Those who have influence within republicanism must equally use it to bring an end to their violence,�� Trimble said in a statement. The murder was claimed by the Red Hand Defenders, a banned militia. Security analysts say the name is used as a cover by elements of two other groups, the Ulster Defense Association (UDA) and the Loyalist Volunteer Force. ``Our volunteers carried out the gun attack on the Hightown Road last night. Our campaign will increase. Red Hand Defenders. God Save Ulster,�� a representative, using a code-word, old a Belfast newsroom. The group killed a Catholic youth on July 4. Northern Ireland's peace process has been plunged into crisis by a stalemate between the Protestant majority and Roman Catholic minority over the absence of guerrilla disarmament, the future shape of policing and Britain's military presence. Britain and Ireland plan to deliver a new peace package this week to politicians from the two sides. Police said there had been gunfire, explosions and petrol bombings overnight at some of the cheek-by-jowl enclaves. Each side has blamed the other for instigating recent violence. Sinn Fein, political ally of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) guerrilla group, asserted that the killing was further evidence that the UDA's cease-fire, called in 1997, was over. ADAMS OFFERS TO MEET LOYALIST GROUP Sinn Fein chief Gerry Adams accused the UDA of orchestrating violence in a bid to wreck the peace accord struck in 1998. He said he was prepared to meet -- for the first time -- his UDA foes to try to get them to call off violence. He urged civic, political and church leaders to denounce the attacks. Sir Ronnie Flanagan, head of the province's police force, voice disgust at the latest killing. ``I have little doubt that this was a loyalist attack on defenseless youngsters whom they would have assumed to be Catholics,�� he said. British and Irish government ministers also condemned it. ''The perpetrators of this heinous act must not be allowed to succeed in their attempts to return to the devastation and violence of the past,'' said Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen. Adams, at a news conference, trenchantly denied any republican orchestration of violence. ``We know that the UDA cease-fire is over. What is causing anger (among Catholics) is the refusal by the British government and by particularly the RUC (police) hierarchy to state that publicly.�� In Dublin, state broadcaster RTE reported that Irish police had arrested four suspected members of the dissident republican guerrilla organization the Real IRA, including two of the outlawed group's leaders. The Real IRA has been blamed for a number of attacks in Northern Ireland and mainland Britain over the past 12 months. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [email protected] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
