The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, yesterday expressed concern at the UFF threat to end its ceasefire, which he said "had come out of the blue".
Speaking to journalists on the fringes of the EU summit, he said he had asked the British-Irish Secretariat in Belfast to report to him on the situation and appealed to all those with influence to calm the situation which, he said, "would be sorted out on a community basis without any recourse to violence, which would be a clear breach of the ceasefire.
"The peace process and the various ceasefires have created a new climate and a new beginning for everybody, and this must not be endangered in any way," he said.
"It is therefore incumbent on everyone with political responsibility on this issue to assist the authorities and ensure that threats of violence of any sort are removed from the scene.
"I have asked for a full report from the British-Irish Secretariat in Belfast to be given to me when I get back to Dublin. If there is any substance in the fact that people are being intimidated out of these areas, we would condemn that."
Mr Ahern said he would maintain close contact with the British throughout the marching season. He appealed to all to adhere to the decisions of the Parades commission. In the longer term, there was the hope that South Africa's Mr Brian Currin would help resolve the Drumcree issue in a broader context, he said.
