Call for North's politicians to join anti-plastic bullet campaign

Anti-plastic bullet campaigners have urged politicians in the North to sign up to a manifesto against new types of the bullet ahead of their scheduled introduction in the summer.

They urged both unionists and nationalists to boycott the measures reforming the RUC until the plan to bring in the new bullets in June is abandoned.

Ciara Reilly of the United Campaign against Plastic Bullets said they were appealing to all sections of the North's community to prevent the ammunition being used at any disturbances during the dispute at Drumcree.

Ms Reilly pointed out that Metropolitan Police chief John Stevens had refused to consider using the bullets during the May Day protests in London, despite forecasts of widespread violence.

"The same reason and recognition of human rights must be applied in the north of Ireland", she added.