Ahern - disappointed

Irish Government - "Deeply Disappointed"

He said London had been left "in no doubt" about the deep disappointment of Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and his cabinet at the development. The official stressed, though, that the Dublin government was appealing for "dignity and restraint" on the part of both sides caught up in the controversial parade decision.

The Irish reaction followed a night during which the unfolding events in Portadown had been monitored nervously by the government in Dublin. The response to the decision was in line with the stance taken by the new Irish premier and senior ministerial colleagues during the countdown to the Portadown impasse over the past week.

Mr Ahern, in office a little more than a week, had made it clear in advance that he did not want to see the Orange parade forced through in a manner similar to last year, when the procession sparked days of violence throughout Northern Ireland.

He spelled out that message most recently in Downing Street on Thursday at the first Anglo-Irish prime ministerial summit since both he and Tony Blair took over as government leaders in Dublin and London.

Mr Ahern fully backed all efforts to find an accommodation that would avoid disorder resulting from the Portadown event, but underscored Dublin's opposition to the parade passing by the Drumcree and Garvaghy Road areas of Portadown.