Sinn Fein calls for independent observers

An independent team of observers is needed to establish who is responsible for triggering street clashes along one of Belfast’s sectarian interfaces, it was claimed today.

After another night of violence in east Belfast, Sinn Fein councillor Joe O’Donnell called on the Irish and British governments and the Northern Ireland Assembly to appoint an independent team to monitor the flashpoint area between the nationalist Short Strand and loyalist Cluan Place.

Mr O’Donnell said today: ‘‘What we need here is something that will instil some sort of trust and belief in these communities.

‘‘There a number of things which may help the situation. One of those may be that there are independent observers, if you like, who are recognised by both communities and who are supported by both communities who will be able to step in and end the blame game.

‘‘We need something to stop that, something that is recognised in both communities ... an independent group or body who can say this is what happened.

‘‘It should be supported possibly by both governments and/or the Assembly.’’

The Sinn Fein councillor was commenting after a house on the loyalist Cluan Place was set alight last night by a petrol bomb.

Firefighters were quickly on the scene to deal with the blaze.

A short time later police responded to stone throwing between rival mobs in Cluan Place and nationalist Clandeboye Drive.

The trouble began after a peaceful protest by a group of loyalist women on the Albertbridge Road.

Last night’s clashes were the latest in a series of outbreaks of violence in the area.

In recent weeks, republican and loyalist gunmen have appeared on the streets as the two sides have engaged in running battles.

Last week, the Loyalist Commission, a group made up of church leaders, politicians, community leaders and paramilitaries came up with a ‘‘no first strike’’ plan to calm tensions in the area.

Mr O’Donnell today disputed the operation of a ‘‘no first strike’’ policy by loyalists, claiming several nationalist homes were attacked.

He told BBC Radio Ulster: ‘‘What you have got is a small group of people in Cluan Place who are intent on keeping this situation boiling and who are intent on keeping everyone at ransom in these communities.’’

Earlier a senior Ulster Unionist demanded an urgent review of security policy in the wake of the violence.

Accusing nationalists in Clandeboye Drive of triggering last night’s clashes, Sir Reg Empey, an Assembly member for east Belfast, described the police and Army response as ‘‘totally unsatisfactory’’.

He continued: ‘‘I was a member of the Police Authority for over 10 years and I know the police in this country have put up with terrible harassment over that time.

‘‘However, I cannot understand how the British Government can send an army 8,000 miles across the world to fight a war in the Falklands, it can send an army to fight Saddam Hussein, it can send an army to fight Slobodan Milosevic and now to Afghanistan and yet it can’t control two or three streets in Belfast.

‘‘I can’t understand that and I think the security policy needs urgent review.’’