Trouble flared in Lurgan, Co.Armagh tonight after three dissident republicans from the town were each jailed for 15 years for plotting to kill police officers.

An SDLP Assembly member says she will not be intimidated after being threatened by armed an armed and masked man in Lurgan last night.

Politicians in Northern Ireland condemned those responsible for a string of security alerts that brought traffic chaos to the North.

Tensions have mounted in the nationalist Kilwilkie estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh after police officers in riot gear moved into the area and made one arrest.

IN Armagh even the republicans are turning orange, while in Kerry the sheep have been painted green and gold.

Police tonight warned of a dangerous new threat from dissident republican terrorists in Northern Ireland after intercepting a bomb which could have caused carnage on the scale of the Omagh atrocity.

A number of people were arrested today when police found guns believed to be linked to dissident republicans in the North.

Community leaders in Lurgan are hoping last night's rioting, in which a policeman was seriously injured, will not be repeated today.