THE SDLP in Belfast has called on the Orange Order to reroute its parade down the Ormeau Road on Sunday and has demanded that the Secretary of State, Dr Mo Mowlam, does not force this march down the road.
"If the Orange Order wilfully heightens the present crisis the consequences for the citizens of Belfast could be unimaginable.parade. This can be done by rerouting," said the group of SDLP Belfast councillors.
"In the present situation the RUC cannot be seen as an impartial enforcer of the law. Garvaghy Road has shown that the principle of equality before the law has sadly, yielded to the will of those who can threaten the most force.
"The RUC must not become a tool to implement the will of intransigent Orangeism. If they do so on this occasion, they will permanently forfeit any remaining vestige of acceptance as an impartial police force."
As tension rises in the run-up to the Twelfth, the Lower Ormeau Concerned Community issued a statement last night saying Dr Mowlam had not demonstrated the "impartiality and fairness which is absolutely necessary to make a meaningful contribution to achieving a genuine and comprehensive resolution of the parades issue".
They urged her to "prove that she values nationalist feelings and rights as highly as she obviously values the feeling and rights of the Orange Order".
Meanwhile, Mr Steve McBride, an Alliance councillor for South Belfast and Forum member, has called on the Orange Order to call off its proposed parade down the Ormeau Road.