Both sides in today's groundbreaking talks in the North between the DUP leader, Peter Robinson, and the spokesman for nationalist residents in Portadown, Brendan MacCionnaith, say they were "cordial".

A man at the centre of the Drumcree Orange Order parade dispute has resigned from Sinn Féin, it was confirmed today.

PORTADOWN Orangemen have been banned from marching on the town’s flashpoint Garvaghy Road on Sunday.

Breandan MacCionnaith, the chairman of the Garvaghy Road Residents Committee, has accused the British Government of politicising the loyalist marching season by establishing a review of the Parades Commission.

Two leading spokesmen for nationalist residents' groups in the North have been sent bullets and written loyalist threats through the mail.