There was backing last night for the North's embattled Parades Commission from the Secretary of State, Dr Mo Mowlam, following the resignation of two loyalist members, Mr Glen Barr and Mr Tommy Cheevers.
"I am sorry to see them go," she said. But she expressed her "complete confidence" in the commission, adding that as soon as possible she would bring the commission back to full strength.
"The commission has a challenging task and has hard decisions to make. It deserves the support and encouragement of all reasonable people," Dr Mowlam said.
The dramatic resignations had come in the wake of a decision by the commission - made at the request of the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair - to call off the publication of a preliminary analysis of the marching season in Northern Ireland.
The 7,000-word preliminary document was intended to set out the commission's thinking on controversial parades.
The body has the power to ban specific parades five working days before they are due to take place.
There has been widespread speculation that the document contained an implication that the commission favoured rerouting the controversial Drumcree parade in early July. The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, denied he had contacted the Prime Minister to have the document withheld.
He said he had spoken to a Labour backbencher and had angry words with the commission chairman. He had told Mr Alistair Graham it would be "absolute folly" to ban the Drumcree parade.
Mr Trimble, who is currently in the US, said yesterday: "For the Drumcree church service to go ahead would be a sign of normality. For it to be interrupted would plunge this province back into conflict." He criticised Mr Graham for failing to consult him on the Drumcree issue - Mr Trimble is the local MP.
In a statement, the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland described the latest events as "farcical". The commission had "absolutely no credibility" and its decision to accede to Mr Blair's request proved there was "not even a pretence at independence".
The Lower Ormeau Concerned Community, a group of nationalist residents, said Mr Blair had shown that the commission was "a political creation to be used for the political advantage of the government".
Speaking at a rally against the Belfast Agreement in the Ulster Hall last night, Mr William Thompson MP of the UUP called for Mr Graham's resignation because he had given in to political pressure from the Prime Minister.
Two of his party colleagues, Mr Roy Beggs MPand Mr William Ross MP, also attended the rally.
Mr Alex Attwood of the SDLP urged the British government to continue to sustain the commission, which had a valid function in a divided community like Northern Ireland.
Mr Michael Brown of Sinn Fein called for the immediate publication of the commission report. "Mr Blair's involvement at the behest of David Trimble suggests that the Orange card remains a potent political weapon," he said in a statement.
The Democratic Unionist Party said Mr Blair had "gagged" the commission and this was a clear indication the Prime Minister was "on the run" from the campaign against the agreement.
Mr Steve McBride of the Alliance Party said the problem was not the Parades Commission, but the refusal on both sides of the community to compromise.
Mr Tommy Kirkham of the Ulster Democratic Party said: "No right-thinking person could stay on as a member after finding out for themselves the true responsibilities and hidden agenda of the commission."