There will be a heavy security force presence in Ardoyne today as Catholic pupils make their way back to Holy Cross school for the first time since the outbreak of sustained violence in north Belfast.
Violence erupted for the second night in north Belfast, with hundreds of youths gathering on street corners on both sides of the divide. Around 300 nationalists stoned and petrol bombed police in Brompton Park, Ardoyne. The rioters were warned by security forces they would respond to continuing rioting with plastic bullets.
Loyalist residents said they would not be attempting to block Catholic schoolchildren from going to their classes today. But some nationalists expressed concern there could be further violence when parents bring pupils to school.
Sixty loyalists threw missiles at the security forces on Twaddell Avenue early last night. Several cars were hijacked by nationalists in the Ardoyne Road area. Two were later set alight. An ITN reporter was injured when a bottle hit him in the face, and a soldier's face was injured in an acid attack.
The Assistant Chief Constable of the Police Service for Northern Ireland, Mr Alan McQuillan, said there would be a heavy police and British army presence in the area today. "Let us hope that common sense prevails," he said.
Mr McQuillan yesterday met the North's Security Minister, Ms Jane Kennedy, to discuss the deteriorating situation. Holy Cross was closed yesterday after Father Aidan Troy, chairman of the board of governors, said the safety of children could not be guaranteed.
Last night he said the board had decided it was in the best interest of teachers and pupils that the school reopen. Parents were free to decide whether they wanted to send their children to school, he said.
He feared that postponing the decision to reopen Holy Cross "for a considerable period of time could put the whole future of the school in jeopardy".
Father Troy held discussions with parents at a meeting in Ardoyne last night. Mr Brendan Mailey of the parents' Right To Education Group said it was very important that Holy Cross remained open. Pupils would return to class if it was safe, he added.
Protestant residents also met last night to discuss the situation with unionist politicians. Speaking before the meeting, Ms Anne Bill said there would be no loyalist protest at Holy Cross today. She said some nationalists wanted the protest to restart but loyalists were not prepared to play into their hands.
The North's First and Deputy First Ministers, Mr David Trimble and Mr Mark Durkan, again appealed for restraint and common sense in Ardoyne.They had asked their officials to arrange an urgent meeting between community activists and local Assembly members in the hope of facilitating cross-community dialogue.
"We stand ready to support and resource mediation if that is the will of the parties," they said.
A local DUP MP, Mr Nigel Dodds, said the rights and safety of both Protestant and Catholic children in north Belfast must be protected. "It is vital that both communities work closer together to bring about a resolution of the problem," he said.
Nationalist politicians expressed concern following an attack on another Catholic school in north Belfast, Our Lady of Mercy on the Ballysillan Road. Four loyalists, one of whom was reported to have been armed, entered the car park and smashed the windows and doors of 17 teachers' cars.
Children became hysterical as it was feared that the men would enter the school building. The North's Education Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness, blamed the UDA. "This violence is traumatising our children and sowing the seeds of sectarian hatred and division in future generations," he said.
A teachers' union, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, threatened strike action unless the situation in north Belfast ended.