Loyalists to halt school protest for one day

The loyalist protest against Catholic schoolchildren and their parents in north Belfast is to be called off for one day as a mark of respect of those killed in the terror attacks in the US.

Protestant residents in the Glenbryn area of the city confirmed they will hold a short prayer service for the victims of the attacks in New York and Washington during the picket of the Holy Cross Primary School.

They will also suspend their protest for one day.

The move follows a short prayer service and one minute's silence by the Catholic children and their parents for the victims of the US attacks before being given a police escort to the school.

Loyalist protesters have in recent days maintained a silent protest as the children made their way to school but have sounded whistles and horns as their parents returned to the nationalist Ardoyne area.

The scenes have been a marked contrast to the violence which characterised the first three days of the Holy Cross dispute during which a pipe bomb was thrown injuring police officers.

Behind-the-scenes efforts involving the Government and mediators have been continuing to broker an end to the dispute between both sides.

The Government and the Northern Ireland Executive have proposed a community forum to tackle a range of problems affecting the loyalist and nationalist communities in Glenbryn and Ardoyne.

The suspension of the protest coincides with the Irish Government's decision to hold a national day of mourning for the victims of the US attacks.

Northern Ireland Assembly members will also gather at Stormont to debate the New York and Washington attacks.