The Loyalist Volunteer Force has said it is prepared to approach the Independent Commission set up to deal with the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons.
In a statement, the organisation said its ceasefire, announced shortly before the referendum on the Belfast Agreement, stood, and it was prepared to meet a representative of the Independent Commission.
Loyalist sources yesterday described the offer as a tactic aimed at having the 25 LVF prisoners in the Maze included in the early-release scheme under which all prisoners belonging to paramilitary organisations on genuine ceasefire will be released within two years.
The LVF prisoners and a similar number belonging to the Irish National Liberation Army are excluded from the early-release scheme.
The LVF ceasefire announcement and yesterday's statement, are regarded as suspicious by senior security figures.
