N. IRELAND: DRUMCREE STAND-OFF LATEST SITUATION (3)

(10 Jul 1998) English/Nat

Peace in Northern Ireland remains in crisis on Friday after British army reinforcements arrived in Drumcree to bolster forces after a six-day standoff with Protestant Orangemen and another night of violence.

British Prime Minister made an urgent appeal for calm in the province where tensions appear to be heightening by the day.

Soldiers were busy putting up fences and barricades knocked over in Thursday night's clashes with over twenty thousand demonstrators.

Military helicopters touched down in Drumcree on Friday, not far from the Anglican church where members of the Orange Order have set up camp.

Soldiers left the helicopters wearing riot gear and carrying plastic shields.

They arrived after another night of violence in which 20-thousand demonstrators clashed with riot police.

The Orangemen are angry at being denied permission to march through Portadown's largely Catholic area of Garvaghy Road.

Army soldiers are being joined by troops from the parachute regiment to bolster defences in the area, which include concrete blocks and barbed wire fencing.

The military's presence has been stepped up amid fears that more violence could erupt over the weekend.

July 12th marks the annual Protestant celebration of the victory of the Protestant King William of Orange over the Catholic King James the Second at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

Tensions are mounting and there are fears that the standoff will come to a head when the celebratory march takes place on Monday.

With the weekend approaching, police forces rushed to clean up after Thursday's demonstration and reinforce barriers around the church.

Ditches and fences put up to keep the demonstrators in one area were all but destroyed by the crowd.

Police in riot gear stood guard with machine guns as bulldozers dug new ditches.

Around Drumcree church, cement barriers and more barbed wire fencing were put up in preparation for more troubles in the coming days.

Soldiers could be seen chatting with Orangemen over the barbed wire fences.

But the British military was out in force to contain what has already been the worst violence in Northern Ireland since political parties agreed in April on a new and promising governing assembly.

British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, urged extremists not to sabotage the peace process and to abide by the results of May's referendum.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
I hope everyone remains calm and peaceful and realises that we must let this process which has been agreed by people in a referendum, agreed by people in their votes for a new assembly, be hi-jacked by extremists from any side. And that everyone understands that the rule of law of the UK has to be upheld. And that attacks on the Royal Ulster Constabulary, or security forces or any attempt to gain people's way by violence is unacceptable.
SUPER CAPTION: Tony Blair, British Prime Minister

In Thursday night's demonstrations the crowd of Protestant Orange Order members and their supporters had swelled to at least 20-thousand.

Fireworks and ball bearings were thrown by the crowd, injuring five British riot policemen.

After spending the week camped out at Drumcree Anglican church, the Orangemen were joined by fellow Protestants from Belfast and elsewhere in support of their cause.

Frustrated that they have been denied permission to march through Portadown's Catholic Garvaghy Road area, the Orangemen are giving no ground in the standoff.

Demonstrators waved Union Jack flags as their numbers swelled.

Some appeared to cheer as a Red Cross ambulance appeared on the scene.





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