Belfast riots continue for third night
Northern Ireland politicians unite to condemn 'thuggery and vandalism' after shots were fired at police
Police in Belfast have come under gunfire for a third successive night, with Northern Ireland's political leaders condemning those behind the violence.
In Ardoyne, the scene of Monday night's major disturbances, a lone attacker armed with a handgun fired four to six shots as police clashed with masked men. No one was injured by the shots, which witnesses said appeared to have been aimed at a police surveillance camera recording the rioters.
Police officers in the nationalist area of north Belfast responded with water cannon as they came under fire from petrol bombs and at least one homemade grenade.
Northern Ireland's first minister, Peter Robinson, and the deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, denounced the "thuggery and vandalism" of the rioters and defended their political efforts to ease tensions over controversial parades. Violence surrounding 12 July Orange Order marches left 82 officers injured.
The Northern Ireland police assistant chief constable, Alistair Finlay, had earlier criticised politicians for failing to be "proactive" in addressing the problems posed by the marching season. "We didn't see joined-up, strategic leadership," he said.
Police have blamed dissident republicans opposed to the peace process for the violence that reached a height in Ardoyne on Monday night, where police came under sustained attack. In the most serious incident of the night a female police officer had a concrete block thrown at her head. She remains in hospital where she is said to be stable.
Robinson, the Democratic Unionist party leader, and McGuinness of Sinn Féin issued a joint statement condemning the violence and highlighted their efforts to secure a lasting solution over the marches.
"I am disgusted at the outright thuggery and vandalism that has taken place over the course of the last 48 hours," said Robinson.
"There is no excuse and no place for violence in civilised society. Both the deputy first minister and I have been, and will continue, to work for a resolution of the difficulties around parading."
Guinness said they were working on legislation that would provide a framework for contentious parades.
Robinson added: "I am disappointed to hear some of the comments from ACC Finlay and look forward to meeting with the chief constable shortly to discuss the events of the last 48 hours and ACC Finlay's unhelpful and unacceptable remarks.
"We must keep our entire focus on defeating those who would seek through violence and destruction to drag us back."
Yesterday police worked successfully with community representatives in the nationalist Short Strand, Markets and lower Ormeau areas to tackle attempts by youths to spark violence.
The vast majority of parades pass off peacefully on 12 July, the height of the loyal orders' marching season.
But in a relatively small number of areas parades continue to cause tensions between rival communities.
Robinson and McGuinness were central to negotiations at Hillsborough Castle earlier this year that brokered deals on the devolution of policing powers and on creating new legislation on parades.
Last week the Orange Order rejected the draft proposals that would replace the government-appointed Parades Commission with a new system to broker local solutions to parade standoffs.
Margaret Ritchie, the leader of the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour party, said rioters had caused "a massive trail of destruction", but she blamed parade proposals by the DUP and Sinn Féin for adding to instability.
