14 News Thursday, January 7, 2010 D clearly and categorically that this responsibil- ity now rests with the government and its institutions, it said. The decommissioning move was welcomed by a range of political leaders, including Northern Ireland Secretary of State Shaun Woodward, Taoiseach Brian Cowen and President Mary McAleese. UDA gives up weapons to pave way for peace By David Young The decommissioning of the Ulster Defence Associations (UDA) arsenal of weapons will pave the way for a more peaceful Northern Ireland, its leaders vowed yesterday. The organisation responsible for more than 400 murders during the Troubles said the decision to put its guns, bullets and explo- sives finally beyond use closed the door on the regions dark past, 15 years after declar- ing a ceasefire. The act, which was carried out in recent weeks, was facilitated by the Independent In- ternational Commission on Decommission- ing (IICD) under the leadership of General John De Chastelain and was verified by two independent witnesses retired Church Of Ireland primate Lord Robin eames and former UK civil servant Sir George Quigley. The symbolic move was announced in Bel- fast by the UDAs political representative, the Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG). The Ulster Defence Association was formed to defend our communities; we state quite Peace march: A woman walks past a UDA mural in Belfast Picture: PA index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html28.html29.html30.html31.html