NI sees 'worst rioting in years'

[Salem6]

Some of the worst rioting for years has been seen in Belfast and other parts of County Antrim overnight.



Trouble broke out after the disputed Orange Order Whiterock Parade. Most areas are now quiet, but tensions remain high, said police.

Northern Ireland Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde said the Orange Order bore substantial responsibility for the rioting and attacks on his officers.

The Orange Order described his remarks as "inflammatory".

It said police actions were "brutal and heavy-handed".

In Belfast, police and Army came under gun attack from loyalist paramilitaries on a number of occasions and they returned live fire.

Police said youths have now blocked a road in east Belfast.

They have put up a barricade at the junction of the Albertbridge Road and Templemore Avenue.

Motorists are being advised to avoid the area.

Meanwhile, officers are still trying to bring the situation under control in Ballymena.

Officers are at Larne Road after serious rioting there on Saturday night.

Petrol bombs were thrown at the police and violence spread to Ahoghill, where youths gathered in the centre of the village, setting cars on fire, damaging houses and throwing fireworks at police.

Overnight, loyalist rioters attacked police with homemade bombs, guns and bricks, injuring at least six officers.

Cars were hijacked and roads were also blocked in Ballyclare, Glengormley, Rathcoole, Larne and Carrickfergus, as the violence spread.

In a statement, the Orange Order said it would not be speaking to the media until it had evaluated what had happened.

"While the Orange Order has noted the chief constable's intemperate, inflammatory and inaccurate remarks, we have decided to take a more responsible line and will not be drawn into a similar knee-jerk reaction," it said.

"At this stage, all we would say is that if what we saw today was policing, it was policing at its worst."

Officers injured

Sir Hugh Orde said his officers, and the Army troops called in to help them contain the violence over the Whiterock parade, were "heroes".






He said they had been attacked with petrol bombs and blast bombs in outbreaks of rioting.

Gunmen had opened fire on police and they had returned fire. At least six officers were injured and one civilian was shot.

"I have seen members of the Orange Order in their sashes attacking my officers. I have seen them standing next to masked men.

"That is simply not good enough," Sir Hugh said.

"The Orange Order must bear substantial responsibility for this. They publicly called people on to the streets."

"I think if you do that, you cannot then abdicate responsibility."

Meanwhile, civilians were also affected by road closures that brought chaos for hours.

The parade was re-routed to avoid the mainly nationalist Springfield Road area.

DUP leader Ian Paisley has criticised the Parades Commission for "refusing to consider other proposals" on the disputed Orange Order march from he and UUP leader Sir Reg Empey. Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said there had been "a concerted effort to attempt to draw young nationalists and republicans into the trouble".

The party said responsibility for the violence lies with comments made by the unionist leaders.

Sir Reg denied making any statements which he said could be construed as encouraging disorder. He condemned the trouble, but also criticised some of the police tactics.

Meanwhile, the SDLP has called on all political leaders and community representatives to restore calm on the streets.

Security minister Sean Woodward said he was appalled by what had happened overnight.

He said thugs were to blame for the violence on the streets and he praised the police for their handling of the situation.

The minister said extra resources to back up the police would be a matter for the chief constable.



news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4234626.stm

[Salem6]

Conflict's core



The conflict in Northern Ireland, which has killed thousands, has political and religious roots that are centuries old.
In modern times the conflict is centred on opposing views of the area's status.

Some people in Northern Ireland, especially the mainly Protestant Unionist community, believe it should remain part of the United Kingdom.

Others, particularly the mainly Catholic Nationalist community, believe it should leave the UK and become part of the Republic of Ireland.



Origins

The 1916 rebellion lacked popular support, but public sympathy grew after its leaders were executed

Since the 12th Century constant revolts challenged the often brutal British rule of Ireland, climaxing in the 1916 Easter Uprising in Dublin.

It sparked a chain of events leading to civil war and partition of the island.

In the south 26 counties formed a separate state, while six counties in the north stayed within the UK.

Over successive decades the Catholic minority there suffered discrimination over housing and jobs, which fuelled bitter resentment.




The 'Troubles' begin

The civil rights movement's demands included fair allocation of public housing

In 1969 Catholic civil rights marches and counter-protests by Protestant loyalists (as in "loyal" to the British Crown) spiralled into violent unrest.

British troops were sent in but soon came into conflict with the Provisional IRA (Irish Republican Army).

Loyalist paramilitary groups responded with a campaign of sectarian violence against the Catholic community.

As the situation worsened, Northern Ireland's parliament was suspended and direct rule imposed from London.




Violence on all sides

Troops were soon a permanent fixture on Northern Ireland's streets

Throughout the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s paramilitary groups waged violent campaigns to pursue their goals.

The IRA carried out deadly bomb and gun attacks in Britain and Northern Ireland that targeted police, soldiers, politicians and civilians.

Loyalist paramilitaries targeted Catholics in "tit-for-tat" killings.

Police and British forces tried to keep order, sometimes amid controversy, such as the alleged co-operation of some undercover units with loyalist groups.



Peace in sight

Copies of the peace deal were sent to every household

In the early 1990s negotiations took place between political parties and the British and Irish governments.

After several years of talks IRA and loyalist ceasefires held and in 1998 the "Good Friday" agreement was signed.

It set up a power-sharing executive, with ministerial posts distributed by party strength, and elected assembly.

The deal was backed by voters in referendums in Northern Ireland and the Republic, which scrapped its constitutional claim to the north.



Fragile future?

The issue of paramilitary weapons has dogged the peace process

Problems remain as devolution has been suspended several times since it began.

Unionists want the IRA to verifiably scrap its weapons and end activity such as so-called punishment beatings.

With the IRA claiming it will do both, Republicans say Unionist demands for pictures of weapons decommissioning are an excuse to avoid power-sharing.

Northern Ireland society has hurdles to overcome too, with views still divided over issues like policing, and a sharply rising crime rate.