Orange Order rejects agreement

The Orange Order has officially rejected the Belfast Agreement following the Grand Lodge's ruling last month that it couldn't…

The Orange Order has officially rejected the Belfast Agreement following the Grand Lodge's ruling last month that it couldn't accept it without clarification on a number of key grievances. The clarification sought from the British government has not been forthcoming and senior officers confirmed last night that the Order will be saying No to the agreement, a decision which is likely to place the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, under increased pressure.Grand Master, Mr Robert Saulters, claimed Thursday's attempted bombing of Lisburn was further proof that the terrorists won't go away despite the agreement, and said it was "one of the last straws". "After yesterday's bomb attempt here in Lisburn it certainly doesn't look good at all. It is certainly not a peace process."Mr Saulters criticised the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, for failing to agree to a request to discuss the agreement and accused him of showing favourable treatment to Sinn Fein, saying: "It would appear that there is an open door to No 10 Downing Street for Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, but despite requests over several months we have not yet had a meeting with the Prime Minister."