A senior Ulster Unionist today urged republicans to end protests against Orange marches but Sinn Féin has dismissed the call, insisting the marches are "anti-Catholic".
As yesterday's Twelfth demonstrations passed off more peacefully than expected, North's Culture Minister Mr Michael McGimpsey said it had shown the marches did not have to be the focal point for civil unrest.
"We need to see an end to the orchestration of sectarian protests from republicans or whoever is managing them.
"To attempt to tell people they have no right to express their culture is another way of saying they have no right to exist.
"It questions the commitment to the peace process by some and demonstrates at the very least a lack of tolerance," he said.
But North Belfast MLA Mr Gerry Kelly hit back at Mr McGimpsey's claims that Orange Parades were not sectarian.
He said the Parades Commission must ensure that, in future, an Orange parade must not be allowed to pass through Catholic areas, including the Ardoyne area of north Belfast.
"Michael McGimpsey must be the Minister from Mars. This is an anti-Catholic demonstration that goes through a Catholic area.
"Orangemen have no incentive to talk to local residents because the Parades Commission will just continue allowing the march," he said.
PA