The parade, which for almost two months the News Letter has been campaigning for, will take place on Sunday, November 2, to coincide with the Royal Irish service at St Anne's Cathedral.

It will see both full-time and reserve members of the Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy parading through the city to the service and being welcomed home with an official council ceremony.

Although at last night's council meeting the SDLP and Sinn Fein voted against publicly recognising the troops, the debate which preceded the vote was largely restrained and respectful.

Welcoming the mature nature of the debate, Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said it would make it easier for soldiers from both sides of the community to take part in the event and be given the recognition they deserve without feeling like political pawns.

The Ministry of Defence last night thanked the council for the invitation, which it said would boost the morale of troops thousands of miles away.

DUP councillor Diane Dodds, who has worked with council officials and the Army to organise the parade, said: "We should now put the debate behind us and unite in supporting the event."

The parade was agreed by 26 votes to 20, with the support of the Alliance Party.

Alliance deputy leader Naomi Long stressed that as a consistent opponent of the Iraq War she held politicians responsible, but strongly believed soldiers' bravery should be recognised.

Another opponent of the Iraq War, DUP councillor David Rodway, spoke passionately about how he "loathed" the war, but was firmly in support of recognising the bravery of soldiers who are merely carrying out political instructions.

"I abhor the war in Iraq, but we should recognise the safe return of our soldiers, this will not be a militaristic event; it will be to give thanks for their safe return," he said.

Paul Maskey from Sinn Fein and Tim Atwood from the SDLP were the only councillors to speak against the reception for the returning troops.

News Letter editor Darwin Templeton said: "It is fitting that member of the armed forces from Northern Ireland will now be recognised for their bravery and dedication. I hope that on November 2 members of the public will come out to show their appreciation for the difficult tasks these men and women have been asked to perform in our name."

An MoD spokesman last night said: "We are grateful to the civic leaders in Belfast and indeed those in other councils who have who are supporting our men and women in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan."

He said that support from home was crucial to the soldiers' morale when they are separated from their families in a hostile environment, adding: "These important gestures are very highly appreciated."