This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/11/belfast-unrest-union-flag

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Belfast police and protesters clash in more loyalist rioting Belfast police and protesters clash in more loyalist rioting
(about 1 hour later)
Four police officers have been injured in another night of loyalist rioting linked to the union flag row in Northern Ireland. One of the officers required hospital treatment as some protests again turned ugly. Loyalist violence over the union flag controversy spread out of Belfast on Friday night to Carrickfergus with four police officers injured in a riot.
The most serious disorder was witnessed in Carrickfergus and the Rathcoole area of Newtownabbey, both on the northern outskirts of Belfast. The Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI) riot squad officers fired five plastic bullets in response to 30 petrol bombs thrown by rioters.
Police were attacked with 33 petrol bombs, as well as masonry and other missiles. Vehicles were set on fire. A crowd of over 100 loyalists hurled missiles at police in Carrickfergus while fireworks, petrol bombs and rocks were used in the O'Neill's Road area of Newtownabbey. One of the injured police officers required hospital treatment. At least two arrests were made in another night of trouble despite calls from unionist politicans for an end to violent protests.
Officers fired five baton rounds and deployed water cannon to restore calm. Two arrests were made. A small viable pipe bomb device was found on the Westlink dual carriageway in Belfast but it was unclear whether it was linked to the loyalist disorder. A PSNI spokesman said police "will continue to pursue a vigorous evidence gathering operation to bring those involved in the violence to justice".
About 70 police officers have been injured and more than 100 people arrested in six weeks of trouble since Belfast city council limited the number of days the union flag flies over Belfast city hall. A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesman said: "Police will continue to pursue a vigorous evidence gathering operation to bring those involved in the violence to justice." A bus was set alight near the Rathcoole estate in Newtownabbey but Belfast was reported to be relatively calm compared to last week when the east of the city was rocked by six consecutive days of disorder.
There were widespread demonstrations across Northern Ireland on Friday night in co-ordinated action dubbed Operation Standstill by organisers. Police said most of the protests were peaceful. Earlier loyalist protests brought traffic to standstill across greater Belfast as they blocked main roads into the city. Among those affected by the disruption were thousands of rugby union fans attending Ulster's clash with Glasgow at Ravenhill.
Many roads were blocked off between 6pm and 8pm as protesters again took to the streets to voice their opposition to the flag decision. Rugby fans travelling to Ravenhill in east Belfast for Ulster's Heineken Cup game against Glasgow faced major disruption due to the pickets.
But the city centre was not as empty as might have been expected after an online campaign urged people to defy the protests and stage "sit-ins" in cafes, pubs and restaurants to give businesses hit by the six-week campaign of street action a much-needed boost to trade.But the city centre was not as empty as might have been expected after an online campaign urged people to defy the protests and stage "sit-ins" in cafes, pubs and restaurants to give businesses hit by the six-week campaign of street action a much-needed boost to trade.
The Democratic Unionist party and Progressive Unionist party have both submitted challenges in Belfast council over the decision to restrict the flying of the flag. They claim the move contravened its equality policy.
A Belfast city council spokeswoman said: "The decision to introduce the policy of flying the union flag at city hall was taken democratically by elected members at the monthly meeting of Belfast city council on 3 December.
"The council has taken legal advice throughout this process and the decision is in keeping with the outcome of the equality impact assessment that was undertaken in line with the advice of the Equality Commission.
"The designated days agreed are in keeping with those notified by the UK government's Department of Culture, Media and Sport."
Earlier on Friday, one of Northern Ireland's most senior Protestant ministers called on loyalists to end "intolerable" attacks on police.Earlier on Friday, one of Northern Ireland's most senior Protestant ministers called on loyalists to end "intolerable" attacks on police.
Presbyterian Moderator Dr Roy Patton said: "The situation being faced by the police is intolerable and in keeping order on our streets and bringing people before the courts the PSNI must have the full support of all who want to see an end to this violence."Presbyterian Moderator Dr Roy Patton said: "The situation being faced by the police is intolerable and in keeping order on our streets and bringing people before the courts the PSNI must have the full support of all who want to see an end to this violence."
Unionist politicians have tried to find common ground by setting up a forum to consider ways to move beyond demonstrations, but they have insisted it was not a step towards a single unionist party. Another rally is planned for Saturday with loyalists gathering outside Belfast city hall where the union flag will now only be flown on 17 designated days after the council voted to abandon its policy of flying the flag 365 days a year.