Fears increased last night of a massive confrontation between Orangemen and security forces at Drumcree. Government and party leaders were involved in intensive last-minute moves to resolve the crisis.
Senior sources said the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, had put a set of proposals to representatives of the Orange Order during what was described as a very frank meeting at Downing Street yesterday.
The content of these proposals was not revealed, but at least one senior Orangeman remained in London overnight and was expected to be available for further contacts if required.
The Prime Minister was expected to devote most of his time today to efforts to resolve the crisis. The mood in Downing Street was described as one of growing concern.
The First Minister, Mr David Trimble and the Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, continued to try to break the impasse.
Mr Trimble met Orange leaders in Belfast. Mr Mallon last night contacted leaders of the pro-Agreement parties and the two men were due to meet the four main church leaders and business leaders this morning. They said in a joint statement: "We will make ourselves available for as long as it takes to solve this problem."
There was continuing speculation about a possible joint visit by Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon to the Garvaghy Road. The rationale behind this proposal was that it might help persuade the Garvaghy residents to be more flexible on the Orange parade.
Meanwhile, Drumcree observers said soldiers from the Parachute Regiment were replacing their colleagues from Scottish regiments.
Violent clashes occurred between Orangemen and the security forces at Drumcree last night, with three RUC men injured by a blast-bomb. None of their injuries were said to be life threatening, although one of the officers received let injuries and was taken from the scene in an army ambulance. In other incidents, at least three other policemen were hurt, apparently by missiles thrown by protesters.
The chief spokesman for the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition, Mr Breandan Mac Cionnaith, said no approaches had been made to him yesterday by the British or Irish governments or on behalf of the First or Deputy First Minister.
"If Blair's putting any proposals to the Orange Order he might at least have the decency to also put them to the victims of the Orange Order," Mr Mac Cionnaith said.
On the speculation about a Trimble-Mallon visit, he said: "I would have no problem putting David Trimble and Seamus Mallon in front of a public meeting here, if they want to do that."
Mr Mac Cionnaith vehemently denied claims that at a meeting last Friday with a representative of Mr Trimble, he had told the First Minister's emissary his safety could not be guaranteed in the Garvaghy Road area.
"That wasn't true. What I actually said was, `Look, I would have no hesitation in bringing you along to a public meeting but God knows what kind of reception you would get'," Mr Mac Cionnaith said.
The leader of the Spirit of Drumcree faction in the Orange Order, Mr Joel Patton, criticised the leadership for holding talks with Mr Trimble.
"I'm quite amazed at the Grand Lodge meeting Trimble and I'm quite certain that people at grassroots wouldn't support that. We don't want this parade to go ahead at the behest of David Trimble. Instead of making David Trimble more vulnerable we are saving his bacon and I think that's the wrong position to be taking," Mr Patton said.
There was some concern among senior Ulster Unionist figures over the visit by Sinn Fein's Mr Martin McGuinness MP to the Garvaghy Road. they said it was not helpful in efforts to reach a settlement.
SDLP sources denied reports the party was putting strong pressure on Sinn Fein to persuade the Garvaghy Road residents to compromise.
It is understood Sinn Fein sees the solution along the lines proposed by the residents themselves, including the suggestion of a community forum to discuss marches, community relations, the "marginalisation and exclusion" of the nationalist community, and equality in all aspects of life in Portadown, from employment to personal safety on the streets.
If the residents accepted a deal involving the implementation of a comprehensive equality agenda for nationalists in Portadown as the price of flexibility on Orange parades, it is believed most republicans would support that stance.