Belfast parade route bomb defused

Alongside a Protestant bonfire, members of the paramilitary Ulster Freedom Fighters mark July 12th in Shanklin Road, Belfast

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (CNN) -- A bomb discovered in Belfast city centre was intended to kill Protestants during their annual 12th of July demonstrations, Protestant politicians said.

Army explosives experts defused the device found in a van at Little Donegal Street, close to where Protestant Orangemen were holding a parade on Friday.

The Ulster Unionist former Lord Mayor of Belfast Jim Rodgers said: "This bomb quite clearly was designed to kill members of the Orange institution along with band members and spectators."

The alert began after police received a telephone warning just before midnight on Thursday. Two controlled explosions were later carried out.

A massive security operation was being mounted in North Belfast at the climax of the "marching season."

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Police chiefs are concerned at reports that republican paramilitaries are planning to bus Catholic youths into the Ardoyne district to protest against a disputed Orange parade through the area.

There was also a large security presence in the Springfield Road of west Belfast on Friday as Protestant loyalist Orangemen prepared for their annual "Twelfth" demonstrations.

Attempts by the republican Sinn Fein party to have the two march routes reviewed were rejected by the Parades Commission.

In a statement, the Parades Commission urged all sides to show restraint.

"The Parades Commission hopes that over the next two days those parading and their supporters will show respect to their host communities and that those communities will demonstrate tolerance and respect of the traditions of the parades.

"It particularly calls on everyone to conduct themselves in a peaceful and lawful way."

The "marching season" of 3,500 mainly Protestant parades between Easter Monday and the end of September reaches its climax this weekend.

Orange leaders have condemned violence after last weekend's clashes at Drumcree

July 12 celebrates the victory of the forces of the Protestant English king, William of Orange, over the Catholic king he deposed, James II, at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, confirming the Protestant supremacy in Ireland.

The date is marked each year by Protestants lighting towering bonfires across the province.

This year's "Twelfth" there will also be a heavy security presence in the south of the city as Orangemen from Ballynafeigh district have been banned from marching down the lower Ormeau Road.

Their leaders are expected to hand in a letter of protest at Ormeau Bridge.

As Orangemen and their supporters prepared for demonstrations at 19 venues across the province, the House of Orange put in a special resolution condemning all violence.

The resolution follows last week's violence at Drumcree when members of the Orange Order were seen attacking police lines.