Unionists under fire for quitting community talks

BELFAST’S top police commander last night hit back at unionists who have quit community partnerships over the street violence raging across the city.

As loyalist protesters threatened traffic chaos, Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland challenged political representatives to lay off his officers and help end the disorder.

“There is some evidence of others working hard to help end it, however all we are hearing from some quarters is abdication of responsibility and accusations of blame. This is unhelpful and inaccurate,” he said.