Sinn Fein has accused Mr David Trimble of effectively supporting the Orangemen protesting at Drumcree and of breaching his pledge of office as First Minister.
The accusation was levelled after Mr Trimble said that the Parades Commission should be disbanded. He claimed it was only contributing to the problems surrounding marches. "I said it was a recipe for disaster and so it has proved and I think it has to be looked at again," he said.
Sinn Fein accused Mr Trimble of encouraging the Orange Order's intransigence. The party's chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, said: "Not only is David Trimble, by his remarks, actively encouraging the Orange Order to continue its intimidation of the Garvaghy Road residents, he has shown the folly committed by the SDLP when they agreed in negotiations to allow the equality ministry to come under his control.
"David Trimble has displayed once more that he is, above all else, an Orangeman. He is incapable of acting impartially when it comes to treating people with respect and equality. This is evident in the fact he refuses to meet representatives of the Garvaghy Road residents even though they are his constituents."
Mr McLaughlin said the First Minister had strictly adhered to the Orange Order's position of "refusing to speak to anyone who does not accept that the loyal orders hold a position of supremacy over all others in this little statelet".
"David Trimble's position as First Minister-designate is incompatible with his membership of the Orange Order. His implied support for the continuing siege and intimidation of the Garvaghy residents is in breach of his pledge of office," he added.
The Alliance Party president, Dr Philip McGarry, was also highly critical of the First Minister and said it was the Orange Order that was to blame for the situation at Drumcree. "David Trimble has described the commission as an `obstacle' in the context of the Drumcree standoff," he said.
"But the responsibility for the Drumcree impasse rests firmly with the Orange Order because of its refusal to talk to local people. Given this lack of engagement the Parades Commission has had no alternative other than to take the action it has.
"As First Minister, David Trimble is meant to try and represent the interests of the community as a whole. His attack on the Parades Commission at the start of the year of `Drumcree Five' is a very negative indicator for the coming months."