A hijacked lorry forms a blazing roadblock

Marches Trigger Anger, Violence and Threats

Cars and lorries were set on fire on the road on the border with the Irish Republic south of Newry. Petrol bombs were thrown at a police station at Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh; and shots were fired at an RUC patrol at Strabane, Co. Londonderry.

BBC correspondents say the disturbances were minor and isolated compared with the violence on the previous two nights.

The Northern Ireland Secretary, Mo Mowlam, has been unable to reassure nationalist politicians who were upset by a leaked government document on how to handle the march through the mainly Catholic Garvaghy Road.

The document appeared to show that the Government had made up its mind that the march should go ahead, in spite of local opposition, even before mediation talks had taken place.

There are fears about Orange Order marches planned for the coming weekend. Two in particular are highly controversial: along the lower Ormeau Road in Belfast, and from the Waterside district in Londonderry to the city centre.

One republican terror group, the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), has issued a threat to kill Protestants if the Ormeau Road march goes ahead on Saturday.

The organisation issued a statement which said: "If any more loyalists are forced through nationalist communities we will move from our position of defence to retaliation. Those within the Loyal Order organisations deemed to be responsible for the misery heaped upon our community will be made accountable."

Gerard Rice: "Use another route"

A spokesman for a Catholic community group in the area, Gerard Rice, told BBC 1's Breakfast programme that people found the marchers intimidating. He wanted them to use an alternative route that would avoid potential confrontation.

Ormeau Catholics are also taking their concerns to Irish government ministers in Dublin.

Nationalist leaders in Londonderry are asking supporters to take to the streets to prevent the Orange parade there on Saturday.

The Bogside Residents' Group wants nationalists to join several marches from different districts to converge for a rally in the city centre on Friday night, to be addressed by elected representatives.