Relations between the two main parties in the North's power-sharing administration worsened this evening after the Parades Commission gave permission for a planned Sinn Féin protest demonstration on 2 November, despite objections raised by the DUP.
Sinn Féin has planned a rally in Belfast city centre on Sunday week to protest about the homecoming parade for Royal Irish Regiment troops who are returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The DUP leader, Peter Robinson and the party's deputy leader, Nigel Dodds, had told the Parades Commission there is a danger of trouble erupting if the two events are allowed to go ahead at the same time in Belfast city centre.
The Parades Commission this evening announced that the Sinn Féin demonstration could go ahead and said it had received assurances that the event will be conducted peacefully, with dignity and solemnity and would be adequately marshalled.
When a proposal to organise a homecoming parade for the British troops was debated at Belfast City Council, parties split along traditional lines.
The row has now extended to Stormont where Sinn Féin and the DUP are at loggerheads on several issues.
As a result of the disagreement, there has been no meeting of the power-sharing executive for several months.
