Three shot in Belfast rioting

Three people were shot last night as a new wave of sectarian rioting erupted in east Belfast.

Houses were set ablaze after petrol bomb attacks and families were forced to flee a loyalist area when stones and missiles were thrown by nationalists from across a peaceline in the Short Strand, a Catholic enclave in a Protestant area of east Belfast.

Police said a 39-year-old man and two 15-year-olds had been shot in Albertbridge Road, a Protestant area.

The Progressive Unionist Party leader, David Ervine, who was at the scene when the violence flared, said the man had been taken to hospital after being hit in the back and lower leg. He was described later as "ill but comfortable". The two youths had suffered bullet wounds to their lower legs, Mr Ervine added.

As blast bombs continued to rain down, Mr Ervine said: "These people have gone through a weekend of terror." The shootings came after several nights of disturbances.

Residents who were driven from their homes took refuge in houses and church halls. Two people have been arrested over the unrest and will appear in court today.