New move in Drumcree dispute

Last year's march in Portadown passed off peacefully,

Key players involved in the long-running Drumcree dispute in County Armagh have been invited to South Africa to talk to those involved in conflict resolution.

The Northern Ireland Parades Commission has issued individual invitations to members of the Protestant Orange Order, nationalist residents of Garvaghy Road in Portadown and others.

The Drumcree dispute surrounds the desire of Orangemen to march along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road on their way back from a church service against residents' wishes.

Last year's march passed off peacefully, but over the years, there has been serious violence directed against the police and Army at Drumcree.

It is understood the the South African visit next month will be a trust-building exercise.

Those invited also include members of the local business community, clergy and police.

It is understood they have been invited to spend a week in Johannesburg, talking to people involved in conflict resolution.

On Friday, the Parades Commission said a similar trip was organised last year.

Promote dialogue

It is understood it involved those at the centre of a number of controversial parades in north and west Belfast.

The Parades Commission said in a statement: "Last year, the Parades Commission ran a very successful trip to South Africa to promote dialogue - the results of that were seen in a relatively peaceful marching season.

"The Parades Commission is looking at ways to promote dialogue further this year."

After last year's parade, it emerged that the Orange Order had sent Garvaghy Road residents a copy of proposals aimed at resolving the dispute.

The residents said the plans were "not dissimilar" to those put forward in 1998, which did not result in a solution at that time.

It was thought that under the proposals there would be one more parade but any future march would require the consent of the residents.

The protest began in 1998 at Drumcree Church when the Orangemen's homeward route was blocked by the security forces.

The Parades Commission was set up in 1997 to make decisions on whether controversial parades should be restricted.