Man shot during fresh Belfast clashes

A man is being treated for a minor gunshot wound after another night of rioting in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast.

The man was shot as 300 youths ran riot through the Alliance Avenue, Ardoyne Road and Crumlin Road areas, pelting the RUC with petrol bombs, stones and bottles.

There are also reports of shots being fired at police officers, while rounds of automatic fire were heard in the Glenbryn area.

Earlier in the day, several people were taken to hospital after sectarian clashes between rival mobs on the Crumlin Road.

The RUC said carloads of men pelted homes with bricks and paint-bombs during the afternoon disturbances.

Sinn Fein claimed loyalists were responsible. Councillor Margaret McClelland blamed the Ulster Defence Association, saying six carloads of UDA men were involved in the trouble.

"The time has long since passed when unionists and loyalists can pretend that north Belfast and indeed the whole of the North of Ireland is not being held to ransom by this orchestrated anti-Catholic programme being carried out by the UDA," she said.