Army prepares for showdown at Drumcree

The security forces in Northern Ireland are braced for a possible extension of disturbances in the run-up to tomorrow's big march at Drumcree, where the army has strengthened defences in anticipation of serious trouble.

The security forces in Northern Ireland are braced for a possible extension of disturbances in the run-up to tomorrow's big march at Drumcree, where the army has strengthened defences in anticipation of serious trouble.

Razor wire was strung across fields yesterday to deter incursions by the loyalist rioters who appear nightly at Drumcree to attack the security forces with stones and other missiles.

The authorities are worried by the fact that the Portadown Orange Order leader, Harold Gracey, declined yesterday to denounce the violence attacks, saying the blame lay with Tony Blair and the Parades Commission.

Figures released yesterday by the RUC revealed that 37 police officers and two soldiers had been injured in the violence, with 145 attacks on the security forces. Shots were fired by rioters on 12 occasions. There have been 140 petrol-bomb incidents; 171 vehicles have been damaged with 50 hijackings; 43 homes and 27 other buildings have been damaged; 54 people have been arrested.

The Parades Commissionturned down a suggestion from the Portadown Orangemen yesterday, who said they would move towards mediation in the dispute if they were allowed to march tomorrow. The Catholic residents' spokesman Brendan McKenna described the approach as "a tired old idea from tired old men".