Eighteen people have been arrested after nine police officers were injured during the latest outburst of loyalist violence in the North.

Loyalist violence left a number of police officers in the North injured after they were attacked by a large crowd.

Males aged 23 and 16 have been charged with rioting following last night’s violence in east Belfast.

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

Violence which erupted in Belfast after a controversial vote on the Union flag was unacceptable, Northern Ireland’s First Minister warned today.

Police in the North are investigating a petrol bomb attack on a house in east Belfast this morning.

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

Three PSNI vehicles were damaged last night during street clashes between rival gangs in east Belfast.

Business owners were advised to stay away from their premises in East Belfast today as police dealt with a disturbance.

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has left Belfast for crisis talks with Tony Blair as sectarian violence flared up again in the city.