The UDA last night signalled that it was to remove thousands of loyalist and paramilitary flags across Northern Ireland. UDA supporters in the loyalist Tigers Bay and Westland estate areas of north Belfast could yesterday be seen removing UDA and Union flags from lampposts at interface areas.
Loyalists were also seen painting red, white and blue kerbstones grey.
It is understood that negotiations to remove UDA murals of masked gunmen in places like the lower Shankill are already at an advanced stage.
Sammy Duddy of the Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG), which is linked to the UDA, said the paramilitary group had decided to remove flags and graffiti from loyalist estates in an effort to
"normalise" Protestant communities.
Mr Duddy said that while flags had been removed in north Belfast yesterday, other areas were expected to follow suit within days.
"The UDA took the decision to remove these flags and paint out kerbstones in an effort to try and bring some normality back into loyalist communities," he said.
"These measures are designed to reduce tensions in these neighbourhoods and rebuild a sense of confidence within loyalist communities.
"I hope this step will be accepted as a positive gesture."
The decision to remove loyalist flags comes just days after the UDA ann-ounced a 12-month ceasefire and less than a week after more than a dozen loyalist pipe bombs were handed to police.
Giving a cautious welcome to the decision to remove graffiti and flags, SDLP assembly member Alban Maginness said: "I said when the UDA announced its ceasefire statement that the nationalist community will judge these people on their actions, not their words.
"But I welcome the removal of these flags as a positive move.
"I would urge the UDA to take the next step and to remove the offensive militaristic murals which blight areas like north Belfast."
But voicing nationalist concerns that a secret deal had been done between the British government and the UDA, Mr Maginness said: "The suspicion is that the government has come to some sort of covert agreement with the UDA to carry out a series of initiatives which will allow their rehabilitation.
"It's time the government came clean on any covert agreement which it has done with the UDA.
"In the last week there has been a series of moves from the UDA and British government which have quite clearly been choreographed. The public has a right to know what this deal involves."
Sinn Féin assembly member Gerry Kelly said he welcomed any move which could reduce sectarian tensions, but added: "What nationalists want most is an end to sectarian attacks and that is ultimately how they will judge the UDA at the end of the day."
