The RUC Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan today urged community leaders to exercise their influence to help to bring an end to the Belfast riots.
Sir Ronnie said that while he felt that the riots were not orchestrated he believed someone would be killed if the violence continued.
Meanwhile, Mr Gerry Kelly, a Northern Ireland Assembly member for north Belfast, today called for steel gates at the heart of last night's rioting to be permanently closed.
He claimed Catholic residents in the Duncairn Gardens area will not be safe from attacks orchestrated by loyalist paramilitaries in the adjoining Tigers' Bay district until the gates shut.
He said: "I have never argued for any peace wall to be solidified, but I'm arguing that these gates need to be sealed up on a long term basis."
However, DUP MP Mr Nigel Dodds asked Sínn Fein to stop calling for a peace wall to be built to hem Protestants in. He said that Sínn Fein should use their influence to stop orgainised gangs from rampaging through the area.
Earlier today blast bombs and petrol bombs were thrown as sectarian violence flared in Belfast.
Explosions were reported at 1 a.m. in the Short Strand district, a Catholic area in the east of the city, the RUC said. No one was injured in the attacks.
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The RUC said loyalists fired blast bombs and petrol bombs into the Short Strand area.
Gunfire was reported in the Short Strand district last night, where a row of bungalows belonging to Catholic pensioners was earlier set on fire in a petrol bomb attack from across the peaceline.
There were no reports of any injuries following the shooting, which Mr David Ervine of the loyalist Progressive Unionist Party claimed was directed by the IRA at Protestant community workers. He said: "I think it was a fairly murderous attack."
Yesterday a number of police were hurt in clashes between nationalists and loyalists in the north of the city.
The violence took place in Duncairn Gardens, Limestone Road, Hallidays Road and Limestone Road. Petrol bombs and acid bombs as well as stones, bottles and bricks were thrown by rival factions.
Shots were fired from the loyalist Newtownards Road at RUC officers during the rioting.
PA
PA