Robert Saulters Grandmaster of the Orange Lodge

Final Bid to Avoid Drumcree Violence

This would rule out an official re-routing or a ban of the march - and nationalist residents would have to concede the right to parade through their road.

David Trimble: Set against re-routing

Trimble's interview with the BBC's Breakfast TV - Dur: 2'30"

Orangemen like Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble see re-routing as "giving way to violence".

Mr Saulters call came as the Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam was preparing to make a final bid on Friday to broker a deal to stave off violence. She was due to talk to both the Portadown Orangemen and nationalist residents of the Garvaghy Road.

Ms Mowlam held meetings into the early hours of Friday morning with RUC chief constable Ronnie Flanagan and army General Sir Rupert Smith on whether to let the parade go through, ban it or re-route it.

Barring a last minute agreement between the sides, a decision by the authorities is not expected to be announced before Saturday.

Orangemen waiting for a break-through

As long as it is unclear whether the nationalist residents will concede the Orangemen's right to parade, there is little to suggest that the two sides are prepared to make a deal which could prevent a repeat of the violence of last summer.

Last year's decision to refuse the parade the right to march through Garvaghy Road sparked massive province-wide unrest. When the RUC gave the go-ahead for the marchers three days later, it provoked more violence, this time from nationalists.

Tony Blair and the new Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, met in London on Thursday, but it is not thought Mr Ahern has changed his view that the parade should not be allowed through the nationalist area.

On Thursday US President Bill Clinton renewed his appeal for all sides to avoid confrontations.