Photographer injured in Belfast riot

A press photographer was injured in a shooting as rioting erupted for a second night in Northern Ireland.

A press photographer was injured in a shooting as rioting erupted for a second night in the North.

Three shots were fired during the disturbances around the Short Strand area of east Belfast, which has seen its most serious rioting for several years.

The Press Association photographer, who was covering the violence, suffered an injury to the leg and was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital, where he was said to be in a stable condition.

A police spokeswoman said officers were dealing with "serious disorder" in the Lower Newtownards Road area of East Belfast. She confirmed water cannon had been used and advised the media to stay away from the area for their own safety.

On Monday night, two people were shot in the legs during an intense bout of rioting. It followed loyalist attacks on houses in the Catholic Short Strand area, which police blamed on the Ulster Volunteer Force.

Police officers faced fresh attacks on Tuesday night as several hundred people gathered near interfaces close to the Newtonards Road. A heavy security presence tried to quell serious unrest as bricks and bottles were thrown between nationalists and loyalists.

Masked youths pelted each other with stones and fireworks, while police lines came under fire from missiles. Police said petrol bombs were also used, and officers discharged several baton rounds.

First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have condemned the riots, as well as a separate bomb attack aimed at police in west Belfast.

Mr Robinson said: "At this time when many are working hard to build a better and brighter future for all in Northern Ireland, it is disappointing and deeply concerning to see this level of violence return to our streets."

Mr McGuinness said: "A small minority of individuals are clearly determined to destabilise our communities. They will not be allowed to drag us back to the past."