Forum for Peace and Reconciliation to meet in Dublin

The Forum for Peace and Reconciliation meets in Dublin later today to discuss sectarianism in the North.

Last year saw some of the worst rioting and street fighting in the North since the early 1970s.

Most attention focussed on the Holy Cross dispute in Ardoyne, north Belfast, and the endemic violence and rioting in the Short Strand Catholic enclave in the east of the city.

In advance of today's meeting the SDLP assemblyman for north Antrim Sean Farren said the intensification of sectarianism was a clear result of a failure to deliver on all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement, for which he blamed both unionists and republicans.

The Sinn Fein assemblyman for north Belfast Gerry Kelly said it was regrettable that the PUP, linked to the UVF, had decided to end its contact with his party.