An Ulster Unionist assembly member has warned the British government that it would be "an act of folly" to remove security installations or reduce the military presence in south Armagh.
Newry and Armagh assembly member Danny Kennedy said he believed an announcement on the security situation in the area was imminent and that he had serious concerns about any premature removal of security installations or any reduction of military presence in south Armagh.
However, a spokesman for the British army said there were no plans to reduce troop levels. Mr Kennedy said he believed there was still a need for a military presence in the area.
"Observation posts have served a crucial role as part of our counter-terrorism measures, as has Bessbrook Mill as a strategic base for the south Armagh area," he said.
"It would be a huge mistake to scale or close down the Bessbrook Mill base, not simply because of the security implications, but also because of the local job losses that would follow as a knock-on effect.
"Police sources indicate that the level of threat in south Armagh remains high.
"Whether that threat be from dissident or mainstream republican sources, it would be an act of folly to lower our defences at this time," he said.
However, an army spokesman said: "There are no plans to reduce or announce a reduction of troop levels."
