RUC officers came to the aid of the North's First Minister last night when he was surrounded by angry loyalists following a meeting with Orangemen in Portadown.
Mr David Trimble was escorted to safety by police after he was confronted by angry protesters who had waited outside while he held a 3 1/2-hour meeting with officers of Portadown Orange District to discuss the Drumcree situation.
Mr Trimble had entered the meeting at Carleton Street Orange Hall through a back entrance, but left by the front door at 11.30 p.m. after receiving assurances from the RUC about his safety, BBC radio reported.
As the crowd of about 150 surged towards him, he was assisted into his car and escorted from the scene, in the heart of his constituency, by the RUC. Sources close to Mr Trimble were quoted as saying he had considered the meeting "constructive" and was "not dismayed" by the scenes which followed it.
The meeting had been organised by the Portadown Orange District to discuss what Orangemen described as "the lack of representation of our case by the local MP, David Trimble".
A crowd of loyalist protesters had also gathered and many prominent Orangemen were heckled as they arrived for the meeting. There were shouts of "Traitors" and "Stay Out" from the protesters, many of whom said it was wrong that the Portadown district were meeting with the First Minister.
Shortly after 8 p.m. it emerged that the RUC had escorted Mr Trimble into the Orange Hall via a fire escape at the rear of the building. This news angered some of the protesters, a number of whom managed to break down a wooden gate at the back of the hall before they were stopped by the police.
One Portadown Orangeman , who refused to attend the meeting, said: "I wouldn't sit in the same room as David Trimble. He has totally betrayed his constituents and the people of this province. The officers of Portadown district should not have invited him to this town. Trimble can't be trusted, he's already proved that."
Mr Trimble was reported to have spoken for about 15 minutes and then taken questions from members in the hall.
An Orange Order spokesman said following the meeting that it remained determined to walk down the Garvaghy Road.