WARNINGS of dark days ahead, pleas for calm and expressions of shock and revulsion were the main reactions to yesterday's murders of two RUC officers in Lurgan, Co Armagh.
The Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, said the murders were an "appalling outrage".
"At a time when the Northern Ireland community is holding its breath and hoping for peace, those intent on evil have struck. The government resolutely condemns this atrocity but we will not be intimidated into weakening our resolution to bring about a peaceful Northern Ireland in which all can share."
Calling for no retaliation, she said: "That is what the killers want. They must be denied the sickening possibility of yet more deaths. But that is what they want to see and I call upon anyone here who may be harbouring thoughts of revenge to think again to ask themselves the questions, `what good could it possibly do - how could it possibly be in anyone's interests?' The answers must lie in a resourcing rejection of more violence.
Dr Mowlam said no effort would be spared in bringing those responsible to justice.
Local politician Ms Brid Rodgers, who is part of the SDLP's talks' team, called for leadership from politicians. She said locals were shocked, horrified and angry "at what had been done in their name supposedly but certainly not with their sanction".
"I think the republican movement is going to have to explain to people what it means by negotiated peace agreement and certainly what has happened today can in no way be reconciled with peace which is what they say they are about.
Clearly, what has happened today will have the effect, and those who carried it out know this very well, of increasing tension at a time when there is already a lot of tension. It will increase sectarian division and hatred and will make inclusive negotiations more difficult to achieve.
"The people who carried out those murders today recognised that the government was moving very positively towards the possibility of having inclusive dialogue and I can only suppose that today's atrocity was carried out with the deliberate intention of ensuring that the move towards positive inclusive dialogue does not continue.
"One has to ask the question do they really want inclusive dialogue or is there a section within the republican movement that is working to make sure that there is not inclusive dialogue."
Mr David Adams, of the Ulster Democratic Party, which is close to the thinking of the outlawed UDA, said: "The future looks dark. We have continually tried, with a large measure of success, so that the loyalists will maintain their ceasefire. We will continue to do that but we have to face up to the reality that this may well be what pushes loyalism over the brink."
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, called for calm. "I think that all of us have to be calm. I think those in political leadership have to have, and try to have, a calming and restraining effect and influence.
"There will always be those who will take any incident, whether of a hugely tragic nature or of a lesser kind, to justify their own extreme positions. I think what we have to do, those of us who want to see change in the situation, we have to be measured, responsive, generous in how we seek to engage. We have to uphold the right to equality of treatment and try to move the situation on until that becomes a reality."
The MP for the area, Mr David Trimble, said he was appalled. "It is a dastardly crime that has been committed by members of the IRA sneaking up behind policemen on the beat who were serving the entire community here.
"What has happened underlines the character of Sinn Fein/IRA and the nature of the beast that we're dealing with. There must surely be an end to wishful thinking. We have had far too much wishful thinking over the last few months and I think there must be an end to that. There is an absolute duty on everyone in the community to row in behind the RUC on this situation."
Mr Trimble said he believed the murders were deliberately designed to "exacerbate the feeling in the community, to provoke a reaction from loyalist paramilitaries and to destabilise society". He urged the government to act quickly to give confidence to the community and appealed to anyone involved or connected with loyalist paramilitaries not to play the IRA's game.
"I would appeal also to those people with a nationalist background who might, over recent months, have been influenced by the propaganda of Sinn Fein and republican activists who have been manipulating their community. Now is the time to draw back. Now is the time to withhold your support from republican activists in all shapes and forms."
To the people on Garvaghy Road, he said: "Don't let yourselves be used to leap to more violence in our community. We don't need that."
The RUC assistant chief constable, Mr Freddie Hall, said he was "numbed by the brutal slaying of my two colleagues here in Lurgan this morning as, indeed, are the rest of the force". He called for calm, saying: "No cause in a democracy can ever justify the murder of anyone and that includes the murder of police officers doing their public duty."
The DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, described the attack as "heinous and disgusting".
"Let the Secretary of State explain to us the justification for the government's instructions to permit cosy chats with IRA/Sinn Fein in an attempt to force these murderers into the talks process.
The Ulster Unionist Party security spokesman, Mr Ken Maginnis MP, said the IRA was intent on challenging the integrity of Mr Tony Blair's government and the Labour Party's patience.
The Workers' Party president, Mr Tom French, who lives in Lurgan, said the attack was designed to provoke loyalist paramilitaries and urged people to stay calm. The Alliance Party's Mr Seamus Close described the attack as a "satanic act".
The Bishop of Dromore, the Most Rev Francis Brooks, said he was "shocked, horrified and deeply saddened".
"Occurring at such a sensitive time, when hopes were growing for some form of accommodation in areas such as Garvaghy Road and for a ceasefire, these murders would seem to be perpetrated in order to destroy efforts of a very many people who are at present working to lower tension, to build trust, understanding and peace between our communities."
The Presbyterian Moderator, Dr Sam Hutchinson, said he was appalled at the "coldblooded" murders. "This action shows no regard for the sacredness of human life and is to be totally condemned."
The Methodist Church President, the Rev Dr Norman Taggart said no one could justify such actions and appealed for calm. "Any act of retaliation can only lead to further violence and bloodshed."
Local doctors who attended the men issued a statement last night. Dr Fred McSorley said: "We, as doctors in Church Walk surgery, have been deeply upset by this incident which has tragically ended the lives of two young police officers.
"We would like to extend our sympathies to the families because, as family doctors, we are only too aware of the pain and anguish which fall not only to the immediate families themselves but also to those outside whose homes and businesses this appalling act has occurred."