Belfast To Host Troops Homecoming Reception

Belfast is to hold a homecoming parade for soldiers returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it was decided on Monday night.

The proposal for a parade in November won the support of the city council despite republicans and unionists being divided over the plan. A Sinn Féin motion objecting to the parade was overturned by unionist representatives with the support of the Alliance Party.

Just over a week ago the council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee decided by a margin of two votes to host a civic reception for the troops. That decision was effectively ratified by a meeting of the full council when the Sinn Féin motion against the plan failed to secure the necessary support.

The civic reception will be held after a parade to a service at St Anne's Cathedral on Sunday November 2nd.

Sinn Féin's Paul Maskey had urged support for his motion opposing the civic reception. "There are many people in this city who are opposed to the war," he said, adding that the plan to hold a homecoming march was divisive.

Naomi Long of Alliance said her party was opposed to the "war on terror" but was sympathetic to the troops sent to fight it and she resisted claims that her party's decision to back the parade sent out the wrong signal.