CONTACTS are continuing in the search for agreement between the Royal Black Preceptory and nationalist residents over various parades due to take place in the North this weekend.
The first march is scheduled for Newry, Co Down, tonight. Another one will be held in the town tomorrow. Newry Town Coalition Against Sectarian Marches is threatening to stage protests if the parades go ahead.
The preceptory has refused to talk to the group, alleging that it is a Sinn Fein front. Attempts by, "Newry District Council to mediate between the two sides were still deadlocked late last night.
Other contentious parades are due to take place on Saturday in Dunloy, Co Antrim, and in Cookstown, Strabane and Pomeroy in Co Tyrone.
Talks aimed at reaching an accommodation in Dunloy broke down last night. Nationalist residents yesterday urged the RUC to reroute the march away from the Diamond area, maintaining that it would cause offence and major disruption to traffic and business. An RUC spokesman said that the route was still under discussion.
Residents of the Gortahowery Estate in Cookstown have signed a petition demanding that a parade tomorrow should stay away from their area.
The RUC yesterday rerouted a march scheduled for tomorrow away from the Lower Ormeau Road in Belfast. A spokesman for the preceptory said that it was disappointed by the decision, but "would most likely abide by it".
A protest would be staged in a "peaceful and appropriate way", he said. "The Black Institution has never caused offence or been involved in any kind of trouble. They have always been law abiding citizens. We are a Christian organisation, guided by Christian principles," he added.
The preceptory has agreed to co operate with the Independent Review of Parades, the body set up by the British government to examine the marches issue. The organisation's Imperial Grand Registrar, Mr William Logan, commented: "It is our intention to make our honourable and convincing case to the new review body in respect of all our traditional processions.
The Orange Order has yet to decide whether it will co operate with the review body.