School protests can 'trigger political settlement'

Northern Secretary John Reid says the north Belfast school crisis can trigger a political settlement in Northern Ireland.

He said all sides face a clear choice following the violence linked to protests over Catholic pupils being escorted to school through a Protestant area.

The fourth day of protests passed off without incident after the loyalists in the Upper Ardoyne changed tactics, turning their backs on the Holy Cross girls, blowing whistles and horns as they passed through.

Dr Reid said: "They can use those events to entrench their positions, to blame the other side, or they can use that crisis as a spur to finding a political resolution of the deep bitterness and hatred that seems to exist in certain sections of the community."

Dr Reid is due to meet the RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan, security officials and the Board of Governors at the school tonight to discuss the situation. But he insists the North's "slide into barbarism" is not inevitable.

He added: "The first thing we have to do is try to isolate those who on the backs of potential grievances in north Belfast have attempted to carry out savage sectarian attacks."

A group representing parents have appealed for people from across Belfast to attend a peaceful rally in Ardoyne tomorrow. The Right to Education Group urged all religious leaders in Ireland to come and escort the children and parents to classes and called on Northern Ireland's political leaders to meet parents.

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has met the Right to Education group and offered to talk to the loyalists trying to prevent nationalists coming through their estate.

The West Belfast MP insisted there could be no justification for what he described as bigoted, sectarian abuse being hurled at the youngsters.