THE British government gave an assurance yesterday that the RUC, backed up by the British army, would do all that was necessary to maintain order and the rule of law.
The Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, said the British government stood fully behind the RUC's decision to reroute the Orange parade away from the nationalist Garvaghy Road. No political pressure had been put on the RUC chief constable Sir Hugh Annesley, to block the parade, and neither would there be any pressure on him to reconsider his decision, he added.
The political development minister, Mr Michael Ancram appealed to political leaders to urge restraint on all sides and engage wholeheartedly in the process of dialogue.
The UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, said he condemned the violence that erupted in various parts of Northern Ireland in recent days, but denied that Orangemen or unionist politicians must carry any of the blame for the disturbances. He said the parades and demonstrations organised by the Orange Order across the North were being conducted in a disciplined manner.
Mr Trimble blamed others for the disturbances. "The danger is that other elements are there who are creating a serious situation. We want those restrained."
Asked at what point did he cease being "involved in a civil rights protest for Protestants and become an accomplice to serious crime ", he replied: "I am not an accomplice . . . I have warned consistently from the outset about the dangers.
Had the authorities listened to the advice I gave last week, this situation would not have arisen. We are continuing our appeals to those involved in this situation not to get involved in violence."
On the decision of the UUP the DUP and the UK Unionist Party to withdraw from multi-party talks until the Drumcree stand-off was resolved Mr Trimble said continuing talks would be inappropriate in the current circumstances. The immediate crisis had to be defused as quickly as possible. Thereafter he hoped they could return to the talks and "see some serious progress".
Most of the other parties to the talks continued their meeting at Stormont yesterday. In a statement, the chairmen, Mr George Mitchell, Gen John de Chastelain and Mr Harri Holkeri, said the talks will continue today and resume against next Tuesday.
Mr Sean Farren, of the SDLP, criticised the unionist parties for withdrawing from the talks: "They are sending out exactly the wrong message to the people."
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, would give no credit to the RUC and British army for their efforts to maintain the peace and keep the Orangemen away from Garvaghy Road. He queried why there were not more arrests.
Mr Adams appealed for restraint and calm from nationalists, and was critical of the leadership of the main unionists parties for inflaming loyalist passions. The "Protestant religion was being hijacked by the sectarian bigots of Orangeism". He denied that Garvaghy residents were being manipulated by Sinn Fein.
The DUP in a statement said it would be unthinkable for unionists to continue sitting at a talks table with the British and Irish governments which "were acting together to deny the democratic rights of citizens in the United Kingdom".
The DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, added: "Every unionist knows, without explanation being required, that the events that matter most to the future of Northern Ireland are being played out in the streets of Ulster, where ordinary Ulster folk have picked up the gauntlet thrown down by the Provo-placating government."
The Alliance Party leader, Dr John Alderdice, said that Northern Ireland was being increasingly held to ransom by unionist politicians. "Those who bring the mobs on to the streets and fill their heads with belligerent talk are fully responsible for the activities of these mobs. The appalling waste of money to pay for the damage wrought, and the security required, will come out of the budgets of our hospitals and schools. The world-wide publicity will inflict lasting damage on our economy.
The Women's Coalition called for calm and restraint. The Green Party urged the residents of the Garvaghy Road, in the interests of public safety and order, to allow "a token group" of Orangemen to walk down the road.
