Rioting has 'turned clock back 10 years'

Community relations in a flashpoint area of Belfast have been set back 10 years following another night of rioting in the violence-ravaged city, it was claimed today.

Bitter recriminations began after the latest trouble, which saw blast bombs and petrol bombs hurled by loyalists into the Catholic Short Strand enclave in the east of the city.

No one was injured in the attacks, which followed reports of gunfire in the area last night. It happened as repairs were being made to Short Strand pensioners’ homes set alight in petrol bomb attacks from across the peace line on the Newtownards Road early yesterday.

Nationalists insist the shots came from loyalists, but a cross-community youth worker on the loyalist side was adamant that it was Protestants being targeted.

Raymond Laverty claimed up to 20 rounds were fired at himself and two youths as he tried to calm tensions in the area.

"It didn’t come from our side, it came from the Short Strand and that’s what ignited the whole thing last night," he said.

But Short Strand Sinn Fein councillor Joe O’Donnell expressed shock at Mr Laverty’s claims and pleaded for an end to the violence before it gets totally out of hand.

Appealing for community leaders to step up efforts to resolve the knife-edge situation, he said: "We need to get involved in some dialogue and pull back from the brink before it’s too late."

Mr O’Donnell claimed a volley of shots was fired from the Newtownards Road.

He added: "There had been a lot of hard work put in but it has been put back 10 years by what has been going on over these last few weeks."

Earlier last night, in north Belfast, a number of police officers were hurt during clashes between nationalists and loyalists.

The violence erupted in Duncairn Gardens, Limestone Road, Hallidays Road and Limestone Road, scene of sectarian hostilities in the past.

Petrol bombs and acid bombs as well as stones, bottles and bricks were hurled by rival factions.

Meanwhile, a 22-year-old man was due to appear before Belfast magistrates today charged with riotous behaviour and possession of a petrol bomb in the east of the city.