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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Parade and protest plans changed | Parade and protest plans changed |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| The armed forces and Sinn Féin have both altered their planned homecoming parade and protest in Belfast. | The armed forces and Sinn Féin have both altered their planned homecoming parade and protest in Belfast. |
| The armed forces dropped an RAF flypast and announced soldiers would be unarmed, while Sinn Féin has changed the route and times of its protest. | |
| Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said the change "would facilitate republicans and unionists being on the streets of Belfast in a peaceful way" on Sunday. | Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said the change "would facilitate republicans and unionists being on the streets of Belfast in a peaceful way" on Sunday. |
| Major General Chris Brown said it would reduce "the potential for friction". | Major General Chris Brown said it would reduce "the potential for friction". |
| Dissident republicans opposed to the Sinn Féin leadership strategy of Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness are still planning to march on the city centre, a protest not approved by the Parades Commission which has already determined on the main two events. | |
| Mr Kelly said their protest "will still be adjacent to the route of the planned British army parade". | |
| "If the PSNI properly police the British army parade and the loyalist mobilisation, the city can return to normal very quickly," he said. | |
| Sinn Féin representatives met the PSNI and the Parades Commission on Friday to discuss the changes, he added. | |
| 'Sensitivities' | |
| Major General Brown, who is General Officer Commanding for Northern Ireland, said the measures "further underpin our appreciation of the sensitivities surrounding this element of the parade". | |
| "Earlier this week, I issued a special order to all military personnel taking part in the many events this weekend," he said. | "Earlier this week, I issued a special order to all military personnel taking part in the many events this weekend," he said. |
| "In that signal I stressed the significance and importance of being able to give thanks for the safe return of those who have served overseas. | "In that signal I stressed the significance and importance of being able to give thanks for the safe return of those who have served overseas. |
| "Equally, I emphasised the need for us to recognise that we do not have the undivided support of the wider community." | "Equally, I emphasised the need for us to recognise that we do not have the undivided support of the wider community." |
| SDLP spokesman Alex Attwood said the armed forces' announcement was a step "in the right direction towards helping ease anxieties". | SDLP spokesman Alex Attwood said the armed forces' announcement was a step "in the right direction towards helping ease anxieties". |
| However, Ian Paisley Jr of the DUP said: "I think people will feel slightly cheated that the celebration and thanksgiving event is to be diluted in any way at all." | However, Ian Paisley Jr of the DUP said: "I think people will feel slightly cheated that the celebration and thanksgiving event is to be diluted in any way at all." |
| Ulster Unionist Party deputy leader Danny Kennedy said: "I feel the hands of the NIO or Whitehall simply trying to pander to elements that will never be satisfied - people who are opposed to this will always be opposed to this." | Ulster Unionist Party deputy leader Danny Kennedy said: "I feel the hands of the NIO or Whitehall simply trying to pander to elements that will never be satisfied - people who are opposed to this will always be opposed to this." |