JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Police and British troops will stay on the alert this weekend in Northern Ireland after five nights of sectarian violence. Authorities on Friday refused to lift the ban on a Protestant march through a troubled Catholic neighborhood. CNN's Nic Robertson reports from Drumcree.</s>NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In scenes more reminiscent of battlefield conflict than public order containment, British troops are preparing for Sunday's Protestant Orange Order March, but even as the soldiers were building up their defenses to stop the marchers from reaching Catholic homes, leaders of the Orange Order were making a last-ditch appeal for their parade to go through. They say, if allowed to march through the Catholic road, they will end protests that have led to violence across the country and enter into talks to end the annual dispute, a step in the right direction, according to the British government.</s>PETER MANDELSON, BRITISH N. IRELAND SECRETARY: The Orange Order locally Have made a welcome and constructive move today. I wish that it had been made at the beginning of the week. If it had, we might have avoided the mindless violence and the thuggery that has set back their cause this week.</s>ROBERTSON: Violence that flared in the cities throughout the province for the fifth night in a row. Roads were blocked and hijacked cars set on fire. The trouble, the worst in a year, has left 37 policemen injured. And despite calls from leading politicians, few protesters on the street say they expect the troubles to a abate soon. In Portadown, where Sunday's march starts, the countdown is on, and inside the store, selling Orange Order memorabilia, customers fear, without a breakthrough in talks, the situation may get worse. (on camera): A breakthrough at this late stage now seems unlikely. Late Friday, the Parades Commission, which imposed the route changes, responded to the Orange Orders proposal. The Commission has reinforced its earlier ruling, that talks with the Catholic Community must go ahead before any march through their neighborhood. Nic Robertson CNN, Drumcree, Northern Ireland.
Police and British Troops in Northern Ireland Will Stay on Alert After Five Nights of Violence