More rioting has broken out in parts of Belfast this afternoon.

Two petrol bombs were thrown at police in the North last night, but protests over the flying of the Union flag were largely peaceful.

Loyalists blocked roads across Belfast tonight as part of a mass protest over flags.

Two police officers were injured tonight when hundreds of loyalists tried to storm Belfast City Hall after councillors voted to remove the Union flag.

Two youths have been arrested in connection with serious public disorder in east Belfast last month.

The worst riots for years in Belfast were not sparked by a lack of investment, the North's Finance Minister said.

Hopes of an end to rioting in Belfast were growing today after a night which was free from trouble.

Guns were back on the streets in Belfast tonight after three people were shot during the most serious rioting in the North for years.

Dissident republicans were responsible for the gun shots which wounded a press photographer during serious rioting in Belfast, police said.

A press photographer was injured in a shooting as rioting erupted for a second night in Northern Ireland.

Police faced fresh attacks tonight after trouble ignited in the North.

Police appealed for calm today at a sectarian flashpoint area of east Belfast after a gang of youths defaced a memorial to two murdered men.

There was renewed sectarian strife in east Belfast last night as loyalist and nationalist youths clashed.

Police officers have come under attack with stones and petrol bombs during overnight rioting in the streets of south and east Belfast.

Up to 7,000 shop jobs could be lost if the growth in out-of-town centres isn’t halted, small retailers in the North warned today.

Police in the North have launched a murder inquiry following the discovery of a man's body in the east of the city yesterday.

Water cannon will be used in a bid to clear sectarian rioters off the streets of Belfast, police have said.

Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid has held talks with loyalist and republican political leaders in a bid to end the violence ravaging east Belfast, it emerged tonight.

Five people were shot during the sectarian violence which ravaged Belfast for a fourth night running, it emerged today.

Belfast erupted in sectarian violence for the fourth night in a row after loyalist and republican gunmen wounded three people.