The RUC and British army are mounting a major security operation in Portadown to try to contain any violence which may erupt as a result of tomorrow's contentious Drumcree parade.
A total of 1,000 British soldiers and 1,000 RUC officers have been drafted into Portadown to deal with any trouble which may arise from the annual Drumcree protest.
Tensions were evident in Portadown and throughout the North last night ahead of the inevitable stand-off tomorrow at Drumcree bridge between Orangemen and the British army and RUC.
Twelve British army vehicles moved into position on the Garvaghy Road side of Drumcree hill at 8.15 p.m. last night and members of the Parachute Regiment began searching the area.
There was a heavy security presence in and around Portadown from early yesterday. It is expected that the British army will begin erecting heavy fortifications today to prevent local Orangemen from parading down the nationalist Garvaghy Road from their Somme commemoration church service tomorrow morning.
The security defences are expected to include a steel barricade at Drumcree bridge, a steep moat in the field beside the bridge, and razor wire stretched across adjoining fields to prevent Orangemen and their supporters from gaining access to the Garvaghy Road. Two large Belgian water cannon are on standby.
Religious and political leaders appealed for calm yesterday. The British and Irish governments are hoping that the security forces can contain the protest so that next week's political talks in Shropshire, aimed at breaking the political impasse, can have a chance of success.
Some politicians have expressed concern about RUC morale as a result of the policing changes, but the officer in charge of the Drumcree operation, Assistant Chief Const Stephen White, said that the police and army would be able to handle the situation.
He warned, however, that violence could easily erupt. "It will only take one spark to ignite or inflame the situation", he said yesterday, just 12 hours after the UDA staged a protest at Drumcree on Thursday night.
The RUC Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, said there were some encouraging signs that violence could be avoided at Drumcree. "Intelligence at the moment is that the paramilitary organisations by and large do not want organisationally to be involved in this. And I would think it is the last thing in the world the Orange Order would want," he said.
The new Northern security minister, Ms Jane Kennedy, said the world would be watching the North. "There is concern about what could happen. So far, the protests have been largely peaceful, and I hope calm heads and cool tempers will prevail."
