An organisation linked to the UDA has urged loyalists to take part in a mass protest against a republican parade through Belfast at the weekend.
Loyalists have threatened to flood the city centre in a bid to block a parade organised by the Anti-Internment League (AIL).
The call from Ulster Political Research Group - the UDA’s political wing - came as the Parades Commission last night rejected a request by the AIL to review a decision placing restrictions on its start time.
Up to 5,000 participants and 4,000 supporters are expected to take part in the March on Sunday.
Violence flared during a similar parade in 2013 after a loyalist mob went on the rampage on Royal Avenue - one of Belfast’s busiest shopping streets - resulting in injuries to dozens of police officers.
The PSNI was forced to reroute the republican parade as a result of the violence.
Fears of fresh violence are growing after the UPRG’s north Antrim branch called for loyalists to oppose Sunday’s parade.
A post on the group’s Facebook page read: "Any loyalist from our area that can attend any of these counter demonstration please do so."
"Stop republican scum from marching on the streets of Belfast."
The group has urged loyalists to turn out in numbers.
"It was achieved two years ago. Sadly last year we lacked support to have any effect on parade," the post read.
"Keyboard warriors no good.
"Be there, or stop calling yourself a loyalist."
The AIL parade has been organised to highlight what the group calls "internment by remand."
It says it is made up of anti-agreement republicans, human rights advocates, community workers and trade union members.
Earlier this week the AIL vowed to defy a Parades Commission ruling ordering it to be clear of the city centre by 1.30pm.
Organisers had wanted to start the parade at 2.30pm in Ardoyne in north Belfast.
From there they intend to travel to Royal Avenue and on to Dunville Park in west Belfast.
A spokesman for the AIL last night said their parade will be peaceful.
"There will be no trouble form us, our protest will be radical but peaceful," he said.
"If there was no British involvement in Ireland there would be no internment and there would be no need for a parade."
The UPRG in north Antrim has caused controversy in the past.
Just last month it questioned whether members of the PSNI should be allowed to live in loyalist areas.
East Derry assembly member John Dallat last called for action against loyalist paramilitary groups.
"This call to stop ‘republican scum’ from marching on the streets of Belfast in an interment march is a direct challenge to the Secretary of State and she must stop adopting the ‘ostrich approach’ and take charge of a situation that the UDA want to descent into anarchy," he said.
"The upsurge in loyalist activity is, I believe, not unconnected to the instability in the Assembly and the total lack of urgency to resolve the decent into suspension."
