The Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, has urged Orangemen and residents of the Garvaghy Road to give "careful consideration" to the British Prime Minister's, Mr Tony Blair, invitation to take part in immediate, indirect contact talks in a bid to resolve the escalating crisis in Drumcree.
The talks between the residents of the Garvaghy Road and the Orange Order, if agreed by both sides will begin today at 9 a.m.
Mr Mallon made his appeal after conducting a series of talks with church and business leaders at Castle Buildings, Stormont, along with First Minister, Mr David Trimble, yesterday to discuss the recent violence and the Drumcree stand-off.
"No one can deny or diminish the difficulties that exist, however this initiative may create possibilities and opportunities that have not been available to date. The formula for these talks provides the safeguards necessary to ensure that everyone can approach these discussions with no pre-conditions and no predetermined outcome. No position or principle is prejudiced by these arrangements." Mr Mallon said the situation in Northern Ireland is very delicate but would be "substantially improved if there is an immediate end to the violence, the threats and intimidation, and if everyone stands back in order to create a climate for progress".
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, said direct dialogue is the only way that a "voluntary accommodation" is going to be reached and said the situation was manageable if the British government had the will.
Speaking at a press conference on the Falls Road in Belfast, Mr Adams said people realise that what is at "the core of the resolution of this issue is dialogue".
"What is required here is dialogue, direct dialogue to bring about a voluntary accommodation. What is required here is for everyone to hold his or her nerve. What is required is an end to the hyping up of the situation. This is absolutely manageable if the British government have the will to do it."
Mr Adams urged Mr Trimble to lead by example and engage in talks with Garvaghy Road residents. "Mr David Trimble's position is not helping. I have thought long and hard how to handle this publicly because in all of this I do understand that he has a difficult job. . .
"He obviously wants this parade to go down Garvaghy Road. That's fair enough from his perspective as the leader of the Ulster Unionist party and a prominent member of the Orange Order but he has to work out what is the most important position. His position as First Minister or his position as unionist leader. He needs to show example to everyone in this position and engage in dialogue."
Mr Alex Attwood of the SDLP said the situation is "in danger of going out of control" and urged the Orange Order to use their influence to prevent members from converging on Drumcree over the weekend and end the stand-off.
Earlier leaders of three of the four main churches in Northern Ireland urged people in to keep within the law and not resort to violence over the weekend.
Church of Ireland Primate Dr Robin Eames, Catholic Primate, Dr Sean Brady, the Methodist President, the Rev David Kerr and the Presbyterian Moderator, Dr John Dixon, met Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon yesterday at Stormont to discuss the situation.
Afterwards the leaders issued a joint statement urging calm and restraint. "We call on everyone to act responsibly and within the law for the sake of the present and on behalf of future generations," they said.
The churchmen said they had come together to support Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon in the search for a way forward. They said they had done so in the belief that it was "vital for people to raise their sights above the present fears and threats".
Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon thanked the churchmen's work behind the scenes. Alliance leader, Dr Philip McGarry, urged people in Northern Ireland to heed the church leaders' plea for an end to violence, which was "morally and politically indefensible".
The church leaders have given "a clear and unequivocal message" that there is not justification for violence or intimidation, said Dr McGarry. He added: "There is still time, just about, for local Orange leaders to engage in dialogue with Garvaghy residents and hopefully reach some measure of understanding."