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Northern Ireland's first minister urges unionists to solve flag row peacefully Northern Ireland's first minister urges unionists to solve flag row peacefully
(about 1 hour later)
A unionist forum will challenge the restrictions on the flying of the union flag in Belfast solely through peaceful, political means, Northern Ireland's first minister has said. A unionist forum will challenge the restrictions on the flying of the union flag in Belfast through peaceful and political means, Northern Ireland's first minister has said.
The Democratic Unionist party leader Peter Robinson said the forum of political and civic unionist leaders would also try to increase voter turnout in pro-union areas. Unionist apathy during elections had partly led to the movement losing control of a number of councils, he said – including Belfast, which last month ended the policy of flying the union flag 365 days per year. The Democratic Unionist party leader, Peter Robinson, said the forum of political and civic unionist leaders would also try to increase voter turnout in pro-union areas. Unionist apathy during elections had partly led to the movement losing control of a number of councils, he said – including Belfast, which last month ended the policy of flying the union flag 365 days a year.
The gathering comes as a House of Commons statement is expected on the continuing disorder that has left dozens of police injured and led to more than 100 arrests since early December. It is believed the cost of policing the protests so far is about £7m.The gathering comes as a House of Commons statement is expected on the continuing disorder that has left dozens of police injured and led to more than 100 arrests since early December. It is believed the cost of policing the protests so far is about £7m.
Wednesday night was one of the quietest in recent weeks and came after six consecutive days of rioting in east Belfast. The union flag was flown above city hall on Wednesday to mark the birthday of the Duchess of Cambridge.Wednesday night was one of the quietest in recent weeks and came after six consecutive days of rioting in east Belfast. The union flag was flown above city hall on Wednesday to mark the birthday of the Duchess of Cambridge.
Robinson, who will co-chair the forum, said it would seek to channel unionist efforts through political means. "All participants should share the core values of support for the maintenance of the union between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, commitment to exclusively peaceful and democratic means, non-sectarianism, commitment to a shared future and commitment to the successful operation of devolution in Northern Ireland," he said. Robinson, who will co-chair the forum, said it would seek to channel unionist efforts through political means.
"All participants should share the core values of support for the maintenance of the union between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, commitment to exclusively peaceful and democratic means, non-sectarianism, commitment to a shared future and commitment to the successful operation of devolution in Northern Ireland," he said.
Among those attending will be representatives of loyalist paramilitaries and community leaders from some of the areas worst-affected by the recent violence.Among those attending will be representatives of loyalist paramilitaries and community leaders from some of the areas worst-affected by the recent violence.
Northern Ireland's chief constable, Matt Baggott, is also to discuss the impact of the rioting and street violence at a meeting of the policing board in Belfast. Baggott is expected to present the board with a report on the violence and the cost of policing the trouble so far. Northern Ireland's chief constable, Matt Baggott, is to discuss the impact of the rioting and street violence at a meeting of the policing board in Belfast on Thursday. He is expected to present the board with a report on the violence and the cost of policing the trouble so far.
While Baggott's officers have faced a barrage of petrol bombs, fireworks, bricks, bottles and other missiles on the frontline in loyalist districts of Belfast, the threat to policemen and women from republican dissidents remains strong.While Baggott's officers have faced a barrage of petrol bombs, fireworks, bricks, bottles and other missiles on the frontline in loyalist districts of Belfast, the threat to policemen and women from republican dissidents remains strong.
Tom Elliott, the Ulster Unionist (UUP) assemblyman for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, said a number of police officers in his border constituency had been forced from their homes due to threats from anti-ceasefire republicans.Tom Elliott, the Ulster Unionist (UUP) assemblyman for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, said a number of police officers in his border constituency had been forced from their homes due to threats from anti-ceasefire republicans.
Elliott recounted the case of a female police officer who he said had to leave her home in Enniskillen two weeks before Christmas due to intelligence of a possible dissident republican attack on her. Elliott recounted the case of a female police officer who had to leave her home in Enniskillen two weeks before Christmas due to intelligence about a possible dissident republican attack on her.
"For many years during the Troubles police officers and other members of the security services lived under a constant threat," Elliott said. "We thought we had moved away from that to a more peaceful society in Northern Ireland but obviously we are getting back into a situation where those police officers feel threatened."For many years during the Troubles police officers and other members of the security services lived under a constant threat," Elliott said. "We thought we had moved away from that to a more peaceful society in Northern Ireland but obviously we are getting back into a situation where those police officers feel threatened.
"They feel threatened on duty and now even off duty, so much so that they can't remain in their own homes," he added. "They feel threatened on duty and now even off duty, so much so that they can't remain in their own homes," he said.
Meanwhile, a planned loyalist rally in Dublin against the lowering of the union flag in Belfast could be delayed.Meanwhile, a planned loyalist rally in Dublin against the lowering of the union flag in Belfast could be delayed.