• Tanker drivers in Northern Ireland have been advised by
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the Transport and General Workers Union to refuse to deliver to army bases if they are worried by Provisional IRA death threats.
The IRA has said it will kill tanker drivers and executives of any oil company which refuses to disclose if it is supplying fuel to security forces in the province.
It warns that firms which do not publicly make a denial will be assumed to be "participating in the maintenance of the British war machine. Without a ready supply of petrol and oil, Crown forces who are responsible for terrorising nationalists and republicans will find it much harder to patrol our streets," it said in a statement issued last week.
The TGWU in Northern Ireland, which represents 450 drivers and distributors, has condemned the threat as "sinister and deplorable".
Its members have already suffered distressing situations at the hands of paramilitary groups, including assassination attempts and kidnappings—but this is the worst threat yet, it says. Drivers disciplined for refusing to deliver to army bases will be given the full support of the union.
It is nonsense for paramilitaries of any persuasion to try to stop the wheels of the security forces, as they can arrange their own deliveries if necessary, says the union.
The TGWU has called for an urgent meeting with oil companies to discuss the situation. Three oil firms in the province, Shell, BP, and Esso declined to comment.