Intense activity involving senior unionist and nationalist politicians and community activists, as well as the Orange Order, was continuing last night to try to ensure that today's Twelfth of July parade in Belfast passes off peacefully.
Tensions have been mounting in Belfast in recent days amid concerns that Orange Order protests planned for the city today in support of north Belfast Orangemen could trigger sectarian violence.
The County Grand Orange Lodge of Belfast will this morning announce how it is to protest in support of two Ligoniel lodges from north Belfast.
The Parades Commission has told the lodges that it cannot be accompanied by a band or bands, or by its supporters, as it makes its return parade this evening past the flashpoint shops in nationalist Ardoyne.
Recent years have witnessed trouble at the Ardoyne shops as the Orangemen, the bands and their supporters returned home. The decision has infuriated the Orange Order which may, as part of its protest, block roads in the city today.
There are fears that if the Orange protests are not sufficiently disciplined that this could generate sectarian violence at Ardoyne and at other interfaces.
Those concerns were heightened by reports that dissident republicans and the INLA might seek to spark trouble at Ardoyne tonight. Members of the Continuity IRA posed for photographs in yesterday's Sunday World stating that they would "defend" Catholics during Twelfth of July parades, while the UDA told Belfast's Sunday Life it was on "standby" in case troubles flares in Ardoyne this evening.
Senior unionists politicians, including the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, and DUP MP for North Belfast, Mr Nigel Dodds, met the Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, to express their concerns about today's Belfast parade. Politicians on all sides, including Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams, appealed for calm today.
It is understood that Mr Murphy privately told the unionist politicians that he himself questioned the logistical wisdom of the Parades Commission banning the bandsmen and supporters from accompanying the Ligoniel lodges home this evening past Ardoyne.
One senior provisional republican said republican marshals would be able to prevent dissidents or other nationalists from causing trouble at Ardoyne this evening. Mr Nelson McCausland, a DUP Assembly member and senior Orange Order figure, said Orange protests would be "lawful and measured".
Police and fire crews were on alert last night in case of trouble or accidents at Eleventh night bonfires. Senior fire officers appealed to loyalists not to attack fire crews who were called out to deal with bonfires that were threatening to flare out of control. In the early hours of yesterday morning three men were arrested during disturbances at a bonfire in Randalstown, Co Antrim. At one stage a crowd of over 150 people pelted police with bottles and stones.
