The Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, and the First Minister, Mr David Trimble, ran the gauntlet of loyalist abuse as they arrived for an Ulster Unionist Party meeting in Portadown last night.
The meeting was organised to enable Mr Trimble to put his case that unionists should accept the deal on offer, which would allow Sinn Fein to enter an executive without decommissioning.
Police with riot shields pushed loyalist protesters back to allow Mr Mandelson and Mr Trimble safe passage into the meeting.
Insiders at the meeting said it was "volatile and forthright" - Mr Mandelson had been pressed on all aspects of the deal and he had refused to answer questions on the Drumcree protest.
A spokesman for Mr Mandel son said the meeting had been taken over by DUP supporters intent on preventing him from dealing with the issues.