Call for calm after Belfast night of gunfire

Nationalists and loyalists in Belfast were urged to resist attempts by paramilitaries to provoke violence after a night of rioting and gun battles in the city.

John Reid, the Northern Ireland Secretary, appealed for residents of north Belfast to do "everything they can to promote dialogue" after police were attacked by petrol bombs and stones, and numerous gunshots were fired.

One man was hospitalised with minor wounds to his face, probably caused by a ricocheting bullet, after the flashpoint Ardoyne area in north Belfast erupted into renewed violence. Police in the Protestant Glenbryn district of Ardoyne were also allegedly fired at, as automatic gunfire was heard. As nationalist and loyalist leaders exchanged insults over the clashes, up to 12 further shots were fired in the Protestant Tiger's Bay area of the city several miles away.

After a meeting with Sinn Fein to discuss the mounting violence, Dr Reid warned residents on both sides against being manipulated by paramilitaries. "I would urge those in the communities which are afflicted by that not to allow themselves to be used by those who have a wider purpose which is to destroy the political process," he said.

Alex Maskey of Sinn Fein claimed loyalist paramilitaries had abandoned their ceasefire. "Therefore there is a clear evidence that the UDA in particular, but not exclusively, have been involved in this pogrom against our community," he said.

His allegations were dismissed by Nelson McCausland, a Democratic Unionist Party councillor. "What is significant is that these things are happening at vulnerable points for the Protestant community. It would not be the case that loyalists would start something in that situation; it would be madness for them to do it."