The leader of the Orange Order said it is sickening to see Sinn Fein in government.

Grand Master Robert Saulters addressed thousands of Orangemen in Dromara, County Down at one of the Orange Order's Flagship demonstrations.

He said: "It is sickening to us, following such dastardly attacks on our people for 35 years, to see the commanders of that enemy sitting in government today acting as politicians who care for the peaceful existence of the people."

In a direct reference to Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, a self-avowed former IRA member who last weekend went on a peace mission to Iraq, Mr Saulters added: "They are even accepted as diplomats to foreign countries and advise on peace talks.

"Well, there is no-one better experienced than those who were at the helm during that time of murder and mayhem. It is like the poacher turned gamekeeper. They know the ropes and they know the strings to pull on the parliament of the United Kingdom."

Senior Orangemen and Ulster Unionist Assembly member David McNarry made similar comments at a demonstration in Broughshane, Co Antrim.

He said the order, in its Twelfth resolutions, continued to express reservation over the sharing of power in government with those who had a contrasting concept of democracy.

He said: "Name another democracy constituted like ours in which a private army can hold positions in Government.

"Sharing power with the Provos' political wing is hard. But what causes extra resentment and anger is knowing that it entails also sharing power with their army council.

"By maintaining the veiled threat of the Army Council, republicans intimidate the political process in Northern Ireland by administering a political threat, a subtle threat which operates daily in the Assembly.

He said unionists must sit at the table of government with Sinn Fein to dilute, if not remove, the republican agenda. He added walk-outs and boycotts are not the way forward.

He added: "Staying away, sitting on the sidelines, conceding more ground, leaving our people at the mercy of Dublin and London, these are no longer choices for unionists.

"We have been there, done that and it is ourselves who have suffered from the consequences of dirty double dealing."

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