GARVAGHY ROAD RESIDENTS COALITION
Portadown
Co. Armagh, Ireland
Phone/Fax: Int.Code +44 (0)1762 392898
E-Mail Garvaghy @ aol.com
14:45 Local Time
UPDATE -- Keeping track of Orangemen in Portadown
International Observers are reporting back conversations with British army officers regarding the numbers of Orangemen and their supporters in and around the parade. The Army was told to expect 3-5000 marchers this morning for the parade. But reports from the city centre where the Orangemen gathered before the march put the numbers at that time near 7,000. The Army said that they expected an additional 3,000 to enter the march after it started, and then 4-500 random additions as it went along.
Massive amounts of the Orangemen and their supporters remain near the Drumcree church while observers and residents wait to see what the Orangemen's next move will be.
The Residents Coalition is holding a press conference at 3:00pm in the Drumcree Community Centre. A previously planned peaceful demonstration by residents was cancelled so that the Nationalist community would not appear to be antagonistic or provacative in this tense time.