Reid slams loyalist attacks

He said a minority of loyalist paramilitaries were waging war against the weakest and most vulnerable people in Northern Ireland.

Mr Reid was reacting to the murder of Danny McColgan, 20, a Catholic postman, whose death, he claimed, showed his killers wanted to make all public servants and workers "legitimate targets".

The killing of Mr McColgan has left Belfast in a heightened state of alarm, with no postal deliveries throughout the city yesterday as a mark of respect.

Mr Reid said: "It was a postman on Saturday. It could be any public servant or any worker tomorrow."

As tension mounted in Belfast, nearly 750 police and troops were mobilised to protect Catholic teachers on their way to work. Renegade loyalist paramilitaries have declared them "legitimate targets" as schools continue to provide the focal point for this latest outbreak of sectarian violence.

Mr Reid warned yesterday that the paramilitaries involved in the violence would be pursued relentlessly.

He said: "There are no untouchables in Northern Ireland. Anyone who breaks the law and who is involved in violence will be pursued and brought to book. The cowardly war which is being waged by a small minority is clearly aimed at putting a stop to normal life, potential political progress and preventing Northern Ireland returning to civilised normality."

But he insisted: "No one will be allowed to have a veto on progress and no one will be allowed to drag us back into the past."

David Trimble, the First Minister, said: "We are sure the assembly will share our horror and disgust at the return of sectarian violence to the streets of north Belfast and the murder of Daniel McColgan in Rathcoole,"

But Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams, who met Mr Reid at Hillsborough, claimed the government was not doing enough to confront loyalist paramilitaries involved in the north Belfast terror campaign.

Police last night released two people without charge who were being questioned over Mr Colgan’s murder. Another two are still being held.