In spite of indications by the North's Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, that some progress had been made in breaking the Drumcree impasse, a Government spokesman said there was "still no indication of a change in the mindset of the people involved."
As pessimism continued to dominate the Government's assessment of the situation last night, a spokesman said that contacts had gone on throughout yesterday, "mostly at official level".
Efforts to break the deadlock concentrated on trying to get contact between the Orange Order and the residents of the Garvaghy Road. But there were no signs that the Order was willing to countenance such dialogue.
Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs are understood to have been involved in the behind-the-scenes moves, as well as representatives from the UUP and the SDLP.
Amid growing apprehension over the approach of the 12th weekend and the continuing violence throughout Northern Ireland, sources said there was "nothing moving" in terms of a break in the stalemate. One source said if contact could be engineered between the Orange Order and the residents the problem stood a healthy chance of being resolved.