THE British Prime Minister has called for an end to the "mob violence" in Northern Ireland. He denied that the peace process had ended following the rioting over the Orange Order parade at Drumcree.
Speaking outside Downing Street yesterday, Mr John Major appealed to both communities to negotiate to end the deadlock on marches. "The confrontation we have seen, the mob violence we have seen, does nobody any good in Ireland. And I think the best way that it is going to be resolved is by negotiation at local level in the communities.
And I very much hope that is what is going to happen over the next day or so. The RUC will seek to ensure that there is proper law and order there. But I hope over the next couple of days, anyone with any influence will use it to encourage communities to talk at a local level and to bring this present impasse to an end."
Mr Major denied the peace process was over as more than 1,000 extra British troops left for Northern Ireland yesterday. "No, it isn't. At the moment we have to deal with the immediate problem that exists."
However, Sir Nicholas Scott, a former Northern Ireland security minister, attacked unionist party leaders for failing to support the RUC in preventing the trouble by publicly criticising the RUC Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Annesley. "It is up to responsible leaders of unionist opinion in Northern Ireland to play their part in supporting him [Sir Hugh].
However, Mr Andrew Hunter, the chairman of the Conservative Backbench Northern Ireland Committee, defended the Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, and the Democratic Unionist Party leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, arguing they were in a difficult position. "This is a knife edge act for them. Clearly they are facing difficulties but I have no doubt whatsoever they are committed to finding a resolution of the problems."