Unionists consider next move on parades issue

Senior unionists will meet today to discuss the next phase of their protest against a decision to ban a controversial Orange Order parade from passing a nationalist neighbourhood.

The Democratic Unionists and Ulster Unionists walked out of a political talks initiative at Stormont yesterday to highlight their anger at the Parades Commission move and ministers from both parties have pulled out of planned cross border meetings in Dublin today with counterparts in the Irish government.