Northern Ireland: political leaders struggle to control new unrest
September 05, 2012
After three days of violence in Belfast, political leaders in Northern Ireland have held meetings with representatives of the contending factions, and said that they hope for a restoration of calm.
“We are very encouraged by the determination of all who attended today’s meetings to work together to agree a way forward,” said Peter Robinson and Martin McGuiness—the first minister and deputy first minister, respectively—in a joint statement. “All agreed that there is no place for violence.”
The latest clashes--a reminder of the years of more serious bloodshed in Northern Ireland—erupted when a republican parade encountered angry protesters in a loyalist neighborhood. Dozens of police officers have been injured on crowd-control duties in three nights of unrest. The tensions of the “marching season” in Northern Ireland annually threaten the peace agreement that has ended years of bloodshed.
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Further information:
- Missiles thrown at police during north Belfast trouble (BBC)
- North Belfast riot talks positive: Robinson and McGuinness (BBC)
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