PREPARATIONS FOR VISIT; POLICE STAND BY; PAISLEY; SLOGANS; CARS SEARCHED BY POLICE.




Initials GHB/V/CCT/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: STRINGENT SECURITY PRECAUTIONS WERE IN FORCE IN BELFAST TO PREVENT ANY FLARE-UP OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S RELIGIOUS WAR WHEN QUEEN ELIZABETH FLIES IN TOMORROW (MONDAY) FOR A TWO-DAY VISIT.

BOMB-THROWING, GUNFIRE IN THE STREETS AND MURDER, SPARKED BY OLD INTER-DENOMINATIONAL FEARS; HAVE PROVIDED A GRIM BACKDROP TO THE VISIT OF THE QUEEN AND HER HUSBAND, THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. POLICE HAVE BEEN ALERTED TO SWOOP ON ANY SIGN OF VIOLENCE. BEHIND THE RECENT INCIDENTS LIE DEEP-ROOTED POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS ANIMOSITIES WHICH HAVE LONG PLAGUED THE NORTHERN IRISH PROVINCE WHICH THE BRITISH RETAINED WHEN THEY GAVE INDEPENDENCE TO THE REST OF IRELAND - NOW THE IRISH REPUBLIC.

DESPITE THE TENSION, THE BRITISH AND NORTHERN IRISH GOVERNMENTS HAVE REMAINED DETERMINED THAT THE QUEEN'S VISIT SHOULD GO AHEAD AS PLANNED. SHE WILL OPEN A NEW ROAD BRIDGE NAMED AFTER HER, ATTEND A GARDEN PARTY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, AND REVIEW OLD SOLDIERS.

THE MAJORITY OF BELFAST'S MILLION CITIZENS ARE SAID TO BE ESPECIALLY LOYAL TO THE QUEEN AND BRITAIN, AND TWO THIRDS OF THEM ARE PROTESTANTS. BUT BEHIND THE SCENES SOME CONTINUE TO FIGHT IRELAND'S OLD BATTLES, BASED ON THE ANTIPATHY OF THE TWO RELIGIOUS GROUPS. LAST MONTH A CLASH IN BELFAST BETWEEN PROTESTANT AND ROMAN CATHOLIC GROUPS RESULTED IN SEVERAL PEOPLE ENDING UP IN HOSPITAL. AND LAST WEEKEND A YOUNG ROMAN CATHOLIC BARTER WAS SHOT AND KILLED AS HE LEFT A TAVERN.

PROTESTANT EXTREMISTS HAVE FOUND A STANDARD-BEARER IN THE REVEREND IAN PAISLEY, HEAD OF A BREAKAWAY SECT, THE FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. TODAY (SUNDAY) PAISLEY ADDRESSED THREE DEMONSTRATIONS IN BELFAST. ON FRIDAY HE ADDRESSED AN OPEN-AIR RALLY AFTER AN ATTEMPT HAD BEEN MADE TO BURN DOWN THE HALL WHERE HE WAS DUE TO SPEAK. POLICE WITH STEN-GUNS RINGED THE AREA AND AN ARMY HELICOPTER HOVERED OVERHEAD. LAST MONTH PAISLEY HEADED AN "ANTI-PAPIST" PROCESSION WHICH WAS MET WITH VIOLENCE, AND LAST WEEK THE GOVERNMENT OUTLAWED THE SO-CALLED ULSTER VOLUNTEER FORCE, WHICH MANY OF PAISLEY'S FOLLOWERS SUPPORT.