CAMPAIGNERS who staged a rally in Belfast at the weekend in support of British soldiers facing prosecution for Troubles-related killings have threatened to "bring this country to a standstill".
Several hundred people gathered at the city hall on Saturday to call on the British government to "enact protective legislation" to "safeguard" soldiers and police.
Among those who addressed the crowd was Dennis Hutchings, a former member of the Life Guards Regiment who is due to be tried for attempted murder in connection with a fatal shooting in 1974.
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The rally was held in support of another former serviceman known only as Soldier F who is to be charged with murdering two people after Parachute Regiment troops opened fire on civil rights demonstrators in Derry in January 1972, on what became known as Bloody Sunday, killing 13.
Mr Hutchings told the crowd of supporters: "We need this to continue and it will continue."
"Eventually our politicians are going to have to listen because if they won't we will bring this country to a standstill," he said.
Mr Hutchings addressed the crowd via a phone call relayed on loudspeakers.
Parachute Regiment veteran John Ross, from the Shankill Road in Belfast, said: "Right from the outset my regiment has been branded murderers, killers, all sorts.
"We served with pride, we served with dignity, we were disciplined, we did our duty.
"Yes, we we were a robust regiment, and if you wanted the job done we would have done it. But we were just like any other regiment that served in Northern Ireland in Op Banner."
Among those present were DUP MPs Jeffrey Donaldson and Gavin Robinson, who support official action to provide legal protection for members of the Armed Forces in all conflicts.
Mr Donaldson said: "It is evident that they are very angry about the witch hunt against the veterans of the Armed Forces in Northern Ireland and feel very strongly that veterans are being singled out".
Families of those who died in disputed circumstances involving soldiers in west Belfast, known as the Ballymurphy Massacre group, held a peaceful counter-protest.
John Teggart, spokesman for the group, said: "No one is above the law and justice must be served.
"The fact that these crimes happened nearly 50 years ago is irrelevant. It might have been a long time ago, but the illegal acts of these soldiers is affecting the families to this day".
