The Orange Order in Portadown has dismissed reports that senior UDA and UVF figures have held secret talks with Orangemen to discuss loyalist support for this year's Drumcree church parade.
The Portadown district press officer and newly-elected Independent councillor, Mr David Jones, described press reports that senior Portadown Orangemen had held discussions on Drumcree with loyalist paramilitaries as "utter nonsense".
Mr Jones said: "I can categorically state that no officer of the Portadown district lodge has met any loyalist paramilitary figure on the Drumcree issue. Nor will any officer be doing so."
Violence flared last night during an Orange parade which marched through the Ardoyne area of Belfast on the way back to Ligoniel. Loyalist and nationalist crowds clashed as two lodges returned from the main "Tour of the North" parade, which is largely seen as the beginning of the summer marching season.
Missiles rained down as the RUC intervened to keep the angry crowds apart.