Political leaders condemn rioters

THE North’s first minister and deputy first minister have hit out at those behind 48 hours of rioting and defended their political efforts to ease tensions over controversial parades.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) assistant chief constable, Alistair Finlay, yesterday singled out first minister, Peter Robinson, and deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, for criticism after violence surrounding Orange Order marches left 82 officers injured.

Chief constable, Matt Baggott, blamed dissident republicans for fomenting tensions that reached a height in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast last night, where police came under attack and eventually used baton rounds and water canons to contain rioters.