Any hope that there would be a suspension of the Portadown Orangemen's Drumcree protest over the holidays vanished yesterday. Local Orangemen made it clear that they intended to maintain the current levels of protest into 1999.
Sinn Fein has called on the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, to talk directly to the Garvaghy Road residents in an attempt to end the Drumcree standoff.
Mr Gerry Adams said such talks would set a good example to the Orange Order. "It is unacceptable that the marching season should now be extended into the festive season," he said. Mr Adams and Mr Martin McGuinness will meet the residents today.