Northern Ireland: Belfast children are put 'in firing line'

Naomi Long of the Alliance Party, the Northern Ireland ass-embly member for East Belfast, said the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) were equipping children with walkie-talkies to warn of potential attacks from rival groups. Older teenagers had also been seen wearing body armour, she added.

Long said there had been an escalation of the feud between the groups since the murder of community worker Brian Stewart two weeks ago. Reports have claimed Stewart was an associate of the LVF and that the UVF was behind the shooting.

"People's lives are constantly being put at risk," warned Long. "I am concerned that young people are being put in the firing line and adding a layer of protection to the people who are actually the targets. I think it is child abuse. These are criminal gangs involved in racketeering and drug dealing."