A major security operation is under way in Northern Ireland today as thousands of Orangemen take to the streets for the Battle of the Boyne commemoration parades.

Sinn Féin has vowed to challenge the Parades Commission's decision to allow two Orange Order marches pass through nationalist areas of north and west Belfast next Tuesday.

The Democratic Unionist Party is meeting the British government this week to discuss what it sees as a parades crisis following the postponement of the Orange Order’s annual Whiterock parade in Belfast at the weekend.

The new UUP leader Reg Empey has said the contentious issue of parades must be solved before a stable political settlement can be reached for the North.

Sinn Féin has clashed with the Police Federation, which represents rank and file police officers, after the Federation criticised those who oppose loyalist parades.

A massive loyalist march in Northern Ireland passed off today without the trouble feared by many.

The annual Apprentice Boys' Parade has passed off peacefully in Derry and north Belfast.

There were angry confrontations between police and nationalists in the village of Maghera, in Co Derry this morning.

Today's Apprentice Boys parade in North Belfast has passed off peacefully.

Police chiefs in the North have appealed for calm ahead of today's controversial Apprentice Boys of Derry parade through the flashpoint Ardoyne area of north Belfast.

The Parades Commission in the North is believed to have offered the Apprentice Boys an alternative to the total ban on their contentious parade in a nationalist area of Belfast tomorrow.

A bitterly opposed Protestant parade was tonight barred from going past nationalist homes in north Belfast.

The SDLP has expressed satisfaction that its complaints over the policing of recent Orange Order parades will be fully investigated by the Police Ombudsman.

A delegation from the SDLP is meeting Northern Secretary Paul Murphy today to demand that he give greater public support to the Parades Commission.

A Belfast police chief who headed the security operation surrounding a bitterly-contested Orange march that ended in violence today hit back in the face of rising Nationalist fury.

A train carrying members of loyalist orders was petrol bombed by nationalist youths in Lurgan, Co Armagh today.

The Taoiseach has expressed concern at the fact that Loyalists were allowed to return through Ardoyne in Belfast last night against the wishes of the Parades Commission.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan today backed away from claims that his party would consider its position on policing if a Parades Commission ruling on a controversial Orange march in north Belfast was defied.

Northern parties are criticising the handling of an Orange parade in north Belfast last night.

Buses carrying Orangemen back from Twelfth of July parades have reportedly been stoned by crowds in Counties Antrim and Derry.

Loyalists and Nationalists pelted each other with missiles tonight as Orangemen marched through a bitterly contested north Belfast flashpoint.

Police were today investigating reports of shots being fired during bonfire celebrations in the North.

A controversial Orange parade in the North today passed off peacefully on its way to the annual Twelfth of July demonstrations.

Thousands of members of the Orange Order are parading today as the North's marching season reaches its peak.

The Orange Order is planning to block a number of main roads in Belfast on Monday night in protest at restrictions on a contentious march in the north of the city.

The Parades Commission has refused to reconsider its restrictions on a contentious loyalist march in north Belfast on Monday.

A loyalist mob including senior members of the Ulster Defence Association blocked a road in north Belfast last night in an apparent show of force ahead of the annual Twelfth of July celebrations.

The SDLP has accused the PSNI of failing in its duty to remove paramilitary flags that have been erected in several towns and villages in the run-up to the loyalist Twelfth of July celebrations.

Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly has criticised the Parades Commission’s decision to allow a contentious Orange Order march to pass through a flashpoint area in north Belfast on Monday.

The Protestant Orange Order was today urged to meet Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and reassess its attitude to parades through nationalist areas.

The High Court in Belfast has rejected an appeal from a nationalist resident in Ardoyne, North Belfast, for a re-routing of an Orange parade during tomorrow's Twelfth demonstrations.

The Parades Commission is due to issue its ruling on the contentious Drumcree march later today.

Doctors are still treating a Catholic man in hospital after he was allegedly stabbed by Orange Order bandsmen last night.

Sinn Féin have hit back at Orange Order allegations that they were attacked in Belfast today.

Loyalists in Belfast have claimed bandsmen were attacked by a nationalist mob in the city.

One of the most contentious loyalist parades in the North’s marching season passed off peacefully at west Belfast peace line today.

This afternoon's Orange order parade will get underway in the next half-hour.

The SDLP is appealing for calm along the peace line in west Belfast, ahead of this afternoon's contentious orange order parade.

A large security force presence was expected in west Belfast today as a contentious loyalist parade passed a sectarian flashpoint.

The SDLP has asked police in Belfast to take a number of measures to ensure that this Saturday's Orange Order parade in west Belfast passes off peacefully.

There are hopeful signs in the North of a potentially less tense marching season with community groups in west Belfast hoping to reach agreement on one contentious march.

An Apprentice Boys parade has passed through Belfast peacefully according to local Sinn Fein councillors.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has said he hopes this year's loyalist marching season will be less violent than last year's.

A report due to be published today is expected to criticise unionist politicians over their ambivalence to the displaying of paramilitary flags at loyalist parades.