ATTEMPTS to prevent a repeat of last year's Drumcree stand off were in confusion last night after the Orange Order appeared to rule out talks with the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition.
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, had announced on Sunday that he would convene a meeting between the Orange grand master, Mr Robert Saulters, and nationalist residents. But in a statement yesterday, Mr Saulters said that there had been a misunderstanding" and that he would not meet anyone connected with "Sinn Fein/IRA".
The chairman of the residents coalition, Mr Breandan Mac Cionnaith, has served four years imprisonment for paramilitary offences, although he denies being a Sinn Fein member.
Nationalist politicians and business leaders expressed their disappointment with developments and said that dialogue was the only way of resolving the matter.
Mr Hume insisted that his original statement on the meeting had been cleared with Mr Saulters and said he would be attempting to clarify the situation. "I hope this is not the end of the process and I remain available to do whatever I can to help avoid a repeat of last year's events," he said.
Mr Hume's statement had not referred to the make up of the residents delegation but it seems unlikely that Mr Mac Cionnaith would be excluded. Orangemen have so far refused to hold talks with anyone with republican paramilitary convictions.
Mr Saulters's role has been assailed by other loyalists, among them Mr Joel Patton of the militant Spirit of Drumcree group, who has called for his immediate resignation; he said that any talks with Sinn Fein members breached the Orange Order's own rules.
The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, was also highly critical of the proposed talks, which he thought would do no good. "Anything which comes out of them will be a capitulation to the IRA. It is an IRA agenda which will be followed at these talks," he said.
Mr Saulters was unavailable for interview yesterday but a spokesman for the Orange order said he had been "very surprised" by Mr Hume's comments about the meeting.
In a statement, the Grand Orange Lodge said: "We wish to pursue the path of peace. In some situations of difficulty, lodges may want to use a trustworthy third party as they seek an accommodation without the surrender of principle".
It said it was aware of the evident determination of some in society to seek confrontation and further divide the communities.
A Sinn Fein spokeswoman expressed regret at Mr Saulters's decision and urged him to challenge hardliners within the order who were set on confrontation at all costs.
The director of the Confederation of British Industry in the North, Mr Nigel Smyth, said that "real leaders who are prepared to lead" were needed. "Difficult but brave decisions need to be taken. Bridges need to be built. The future prosperity of Northern Ireland depends on the community finding common ground and achieving peaceful resolution to challenging issues," he said.