Paisley welcomes Blair meeting but warns Twelfth will be `settling day'

The Rev Ian Paisley yesterday welcomed plans by the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, to meet representatives of the Orange Order tomorrow. At an impromptu press conference opposite Drumcree Church yesterday, the DUP leader said he was "glad" the meeting was taking place as it would give senior Orangemen a face-to-face opportunity to tell Mr Blair what was happening. "Only good can come of it," he said.

He was dismissive of Mr Blair's assertion that the Parades Commission decision not to allow the parade down the Garvaghy Road would stand. "Prime ministers lie loudly before they are going to change their minds," Dr Paisley said, instancing Mrs Thatcher's initial stance on "the iniquitous poll tax".

He also predicted that the Parades Commission "will be exposed for what it is within two or three days, as a lying, cheating body with not a tatter of garment to cover its nakedness". He insisted there was concrete evidence to prove this, and said Orangemen "on this hill" were there as "the result of a political act at the instigation of Gerry Adams and republicans".

Whatever the outcome of the Orange leaders meeting with Mr Blair, he believed "this parade is going down the (Garvaghy) road anyway, so it's far better (that happens) before the 12th of July. That will be the settling day." He "utterly condemned and deplored" a leader in the Belfast News Letter yesterday, and accused its editor Mr Geoff Martin of "mocking our God." The man who wrote that and his paper will live to regret it", he said.

The News Letter in a comment on Dr Paisley's claim that "only God can deliver us from this situation", stated that "God may have more important things to do and is unlikely to make a personal appearance on the Garvaghy Road". DUP Assembly member Mr Paul Berry, who took part in a protest with masked youths in Portadown yesterday morning, insisted it was a peaceful event, and that the young men had their faces covered "to protect them from the cameras. Many of them live near the Border". "We have stressed peace again and again," he said, "you cannot justify violence." On his daily visit to Drumcree yesterday, the UUP's Mr Jeffrey Donaldson welcomed the British Prime Minister's praise for the Orange Order's handling of events since Sunday. "Hopefully it will set the tenor for a good meeting." As an Orangeman, he again ruled out any direct negotiations with Mr Breandan Mac Cionnaith and said he was not aware of any attempts to find a mediator. On events over recent days, he said "nothing merits the violence that has been happening".

He suggested criminal elements had been the cause, and dismissed suggestions that the Orange Order might have any responsibility for any violent incidents. He criticised the media for heightening tension. He also blamed Mr Mac Cionnaith "who has had presidents and prime ministers running after him and still he won't budge"." The Orange Order's deputy grand chaplain, the Rev William Bingham, who met Mr Blair at Downing Street last Monday week concerning the Drumcree parade, said yesterday he believed the British Prime Minister was "fairly aware" and "has an understanding" of the issues involved in the stand-off. He too condemned the violence and said "it only undermines the order's position". Generally it was quiet throughout the day at Drumcree with crowds increasing to about 600 in the afternoon. Tiredness was increasingly evident among those involved. There was just one incident when at midday a group of about 40 youths with scarves across their faces taunted police across a trench and threw stones at the barrier. "They're earning £21 an hour," said one man, "we can't have them sleeping."