Hain and Orde to discuss loyalist violence in Belfast

Northern Secretary Peter Hain is due to meet PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde today to discuss the loyalist riots in Belfast at the weekend.

More than 50 PSNI officers were injured as loyalist gangs went on the rampage for two nights throughout Belfast and surrounding areas.

Petrol bombs, home-made grenades and live ammunition were all fired at police during the disturbances, which followed a contentious Orange Order parade on Saturday.

The PSNI has begun examining hours of videotape to try to identify those behind the clashes.

Mr Orde has already accused loyalist paramilitaries of orchestrating the violence and has severely criticised the Orange Order, some of whose members were heavily involved.

On the political front, Sinn Féin has accused unionist leaders of provoking and encouraging the violence and of making no attempt to rein in the violence once it had broken out.

DUP leader Ian Paisley, however, has denied that his warnings about violence following the re-routing of the contentious parade were inflammatory.

UUP leader Reg Empey has also stated that, while the riots were unjustified, the British government had a duty to examine loyalist grievances.