Organisers of a nationalist march tomorrow have offered to meet loyalists who are threatening to block their parade. The Combined Loyalist Residents Committee of Co Fermanagh has warned that it will disrupt the demonstration, which will commemorate the Roslea Martyrs' bicentenary.
Thousands of nationalists are expected to take part in the 20mile parade from Enniskillen to Roslea, which will pass through several mainly Protestant villages.
Three coffins will be carried on the parade, which is being supported by Sinn Fein. The party's chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, will address the crowd.
The chairman of the Roslea Martyrs' Bicentenary Committee, Mr Oliver McCaffrey, offered to meet the loyalists. "We are extremely disappointed at attempts to disrupt our commemoration of the deaths of three United Irishmen. Our committee is non-party-political and was formed at a public meeting a few weeks ago," he said.
Mr McCaffrey added that the United Irishmen were nonsectarian and he could not understand the loyalists' objections.
He offered to meet the protesters "and explain that we do not threaten any culture or tradition".
He said that his group did not wish to offend anybody and aimed only to "highlight the shared history of all the people on this island".