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CNN Live Saturday

Marching Season In Belfast Could Bring Violence

Aired June 30, 2001 - 17:12   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: In Northern Ireland, the head of the Ulster Unionist Party, who is also head of a very fragile coalition government there says he will step down in less than two hours time, thrusting the region's peace process into uncertainty.

David Trimble announced his plans to resign several weeks ago as a protest over the Irish Republican Army's refusal to disarm. Now, adding to the tension between Protestants and Catholics in Belfast, the start of the typically violent marching season.

Reporter Mark Webster explains what that is.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARK WEBSTER, ITN REPORTER (voice-over): Contentious at the outset, the path of this orange march (UNINTELLIGIBLE) through a largely nationalist area of the city, have been rerouted in a bid to lessen the tension. Even so, recent clashes on streets of Belfast and the political deadlock here had heightened fears that there would violent confrontation.

In the event, lines of police in riot gear kept nationalist protesters several hundred yards from the marchers and bands were not allowed. Even so, community leaders said it was an affront to allow them so close.

FRANCES MCAULEY, COMMUNITY LEADER: I think it's absolutely barbaric the way they have handled this here today. It's like a Vietnam operation, seriously. You can see that everything is on the nationalist side. It was actually an illegal barricade (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to keep residents off the road.

WEBSTER: Across the divide there were cheers from local people as the IUC opened the security gates which normally separate the two communities. Then the Orangemen marched silently past police lines.

NIGEL DODDS, DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST: Everything seems to be going off smoothly. I hope that continues and that later on tonight when the parade is gone, that the local residents won't have to suffer sort of trouble or intimidation. I've asked for police to be here in numbers. But hopefully it won't come to any trouble.

WEBSTER: Carefully stewarded, nationalist protesters were repeatedly urged to show restraint. Though a few missiles were thrown at the police lines, it had looked as though it would pass off without -- until missiles were thrown from across the wall in the Protestant area.

(on camera): Despite the fact that this demonstration has passed off relatively peacefully there are real fears about what will happen in the days to come, in particular, in the run up to the drum (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the when the Orangemen traditionally have clashes with the IUC, some of the worst violence of the year is seen.

(voice-over): For now both sides seem anxious to lower the temperature. But the hours of darkness tonight will show whether this stand off will continue.

Mark Webster, ITN, Belfast.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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