Mowlam: Trying to defuse marching crisis

Mowlam's reaction to the day of talks

Proximity Talks Heading for Second Day

The Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam has been having separate meetings with representatives of the Orange Order, and with Residents of the Garvaghy Road, the nationalist estate on the route of the march.

The talks ended without agreement after about eight hours. Garvaghy Road residents' spokesman Brendan McKenna blamed the failure of the talks on Orangemen who refused to meet residents.

For the past two years the parade has gone ahead only under tight security and after days of stand off between the Orangemen and the police outside Drumcree Church.

The call covered a wide range of issues, but concentrated on peace process developments that will be considered further in next week's talks. Ways of advancing the currently faltering peace initiative will be examined then in some detail.

Downing Street suggested the call was made by Mr Blair principally to congratulate Mr Ahern on his appointment and that detailed discussion would not take place till next week's meeting.

Mr Ahern will also have an early meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam during his first visit to Belfast as Prime Minister on Tuesday.

Found Burnt out near explosion

The improvised grenade, which narrowly missed an RUC Land Rover, was of a sort frequently used by the IRA.

The blast was heard over a wide area of Belfast. "I thought it was thunder," said one woman. "We rushed out and there were dozens of people in the street trying to see what had happened. The police and troops were here within minutes."

A car thought to have been used by the paramilitaries was found burned out nearby.