The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, yesterday continued his efforts to encourage a local settlement at Drumcree as Downing Street dismissed suggestions in the British media that he was unhappy with the performance of the RUC Chief Constable, Mr Ronnie Flanagan.
British government "contact" was maintained throughout the day with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the leaders of the main parties in Northern Ireland, but a Downing Street spokesman re fused to "get into crystal ball gazing" about the government's response to the situation.
After Mr Blair spoke to Mr Flanagan by telephone, a government spokesman said the Prime Minister believed the Chief Constable and his officers were doing an "extremely good job in extremely difficult circumstances".
Meanwhile, a cross-party group of MPs has renewed its call on the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, to intervene at Drumcree. The New Dialogue group issued a statement yesterday urging Mr Hume to meet the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition to "secure a peaceful outcome" at Drumcree.
Highlighting Mr Hume's understanding of the "particular awkwardness" of the position of the UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, as the local MP and "leader of a divided party", New Dialogue argued that Mr Hume could be seen as a symbol of reconciliation. His intervention could also serve to isolate republican extremists who had "hijacked" legitimate worries about the parade to increase local tension.
Outlining a possible solution to the deadlock, the group suggested that the Orange Order could be allowed to pass down the Garvaghy Road provided that the march was small, brief and well-marshalled. Any protest by the residents should be "silent and dignified". A second solution outlined by the group would be for the residents of the Garvaghy Road to accept the principle of a march passing down the road but for the Orange Order to waive its right to parade there this year.
