The annual Apprentice Boys' parade in Derry passed off without major incident this afternoon. Over 12,000 Apprentice Boys and 140 bands took part in the parade.
The marchers were met with a small nationalist protest in the Diamond area of the city and four people including a youth were arrested. A PSNI officer said the behaviour of some marchers was "provocative".
Earlier a feeder parade in north Belfast was met with a protest by nationalist residents. Four people were also arrested. Three have appeared before Belfast Magistrates Court on charges of riotous behaviour.
A massive security presence kept apart hundreds of residents and marchers, as the Apprentice Boys paraded through the Ardoyne district.
Despite some jeering and a bottle thrown into the midst of the marchers there was no major confrontation.
The Ligoniel branch of the loyal order was taking part in a feeder procession through north Belfast before boarding a bus and joining the main Apprentice Boys march in Derry.
Nationalist residents in the Ardoyne had opposed the march through the area.
But the ruling Parades Commission had decided to uphold its original decision to allow the Apprentice Boys march.
Although accompanied by a band, no music was allowed to be played as the Apprentice Boys passed through.
Dozens of British army and police jeeps lined the route in a bid to keep the factions apart on either side of the disputed road.
Ms Margaret McClenaghan, Sinn Féin councillor for the area, insisted there was no justification for letting the march through. "We are satisfied from the nationalist side that the protest was dignified and well stewarded. "However, it was the wrong decision by the Parades Commission to force a march through such a volatile flashpoint, it's absolute madness."
Mr Nelson McCausland, a North Belfast Democratic Unionist councillor, applauded the efforts of both the Apprentice Boys and security forces in making sure there was no trouble. But he claimed earlier skirmishes involving nationalist youths attacked police in the area could have provoked major disorder.
He said: "It shows the malicious intent of people when they get out of their beds at that time of the morning to riot.
"This parade doesn't go into Ardoyne, you can't see it from there so what is there to be offended by?"
PA