Northern Ireland attacks condemned

The Government and the Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams have issued separate condemnations of the continuing sectarian arson attacks on Catholic and Protestant churches and loyalist Orange Halls, and the petrol bombing of private homes in Northern Ireland.

An 80-year-old man was taken to hospital with breathing difficulties after his house and those of two neighbours were petrol-bombed early yesterday. Four churches - three Catholic and one Baptist - were alsodamaged in arson attacks. The attacks follow a series of tit-for-tat attacks in recent weeks in which nearly 30 loyalist Orange halls have been targeted.