Nationalists clash over Orange parades

The announcement came as Sinn Fein and the SDLP clashed over the future of Loyal Order parades.

The SDLP called for the retention of the Parades Commission and claimed republicans were poised to make a concession on marches to secure DUP support for the devolution of policing and justice powers.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Paddy Ashdown has conducted a review of parades for the government, but the final package has yet to be revealed.

'Dialogue'

Sinn Fein accused the SDLP of struggling to make itself relevant in the debate and said its latest comments took the focus off the Orange Order.

"When the issue of contentious parades is stripped back to its core it is an issue which like so many within the broader peace process can and will be resolved through dialogue and courageous leadership," said Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd, whose constituency is home to the Drumcree stand-off.

"Out of thousands of Orange parades only a very small number are contentious. Residents in these areas have genuine concerns and a collective negative experience of the Orange Order and its worst excesses.

"The onus is on the Orange Order to deal with these genuine and deeply felt concerns.

"In recent times the Parades Commission has rewarded Orange Order intransigence with favourable determinations. This has exacerbated an already difficult situation."

He added: "The Orange Order leadership have the power to take the heat out of this situation overnight by a declaration that they will no longer seek to march through communities where they are clearly not welcome."

Document

The SDLP's Alex Attwood launched his party's document 'Management of disputed parades now and in the future'.

"This document warns everybody against devolution of justice on DUP terms," he said.

"Peter Robinson will want a high price for the devolution of justice. The SDLP believes the Secretary of State is willing to pay that price."

He added: "This could include the abolition of the Parades Commission and the suffocation of North-South and the Bill of Rights."

He claimed the Irish government shared his party's concerns over the future control of parades.

SDLP Policing Board member Dolores Kelly said the resolution of parading issues should be sought through the improvement of overall community relations rather than as a stand-alone issue.

"Instead of looking for party deals and fixes, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister should take up the challenge of improving community relations," she said.

"They should bring forward the Shared Future strategy which has been bouncing back between Sinn Fein and the DUP for two years."