A new generation in Northern Ireland is being blooded in sectarian hatred, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said today.
In the aftermath of the worst loyalist rioting for several years, Mr Ahern claimed the mayhem was deliberately orchestrated to intimidate nationalists who now feared for the future.
He strongly urged people with influence to unequivocally condemn the violence and work towards building bridges between communities.
Mr Ahern, who visited Belfast last week, said the SDLP and Sinn Fein had been concerned about potential violence after the Orange Order's Whiterock march was re-routed away from a nationalist area by the Parades Commission.
"It's an extremely worrying turn of events," he said today. "What happened last night was a huge effort to intimidate nationalist communities, who fear very much for the future.
"What we really don't need at this moment in time is more incitement," told RTE Radio.
Mr Ahern said he had no doubt that the riots were an orchestrated event and said PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde's insistence that the Orange Order must shoulder substantial blame for the violence should be heeded.
Earlier, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said there had been a "concerted effort to goad" nationalists.
Mr Ahern, who said he will be fully briefed on the rioting by his officials tomorrow, said evidence that children as young as five years old getting involved did not augur well.
"Children and teenagers are becoming brutalised by involving themselves in these riots. A new generation is being blooded in sectarian hatred. A new generation is being spawned by this type of incitement," he said.
The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland Sean Brady said he was distressed to hear of the rioting and urged community leaders to restore calm. "I was very distressed and certainly worried to hear of these developments.
"The safety of people and the security of their property is being severely threatened."
PA