The North's acting First Minister and acting Deputy First Minister are to meet political representatives from north Belfast on Monday in an attempt to halt ongoing violence in the area.
The ministers made the announcement yesterday after a second night of loyalist rioting in which 13 police officers were injured, and a woman was hit by gunfire.
The security forces came under fire at the junction of Cambrai Street and the Crumlin Road on seven occasions. In total, 29 shots were fired, and up to 100 petrol bombs were thrown. Four vehicles were hijacked and set alight.
The police responded with eight baton rounds. There was one arrest for riotous behaviour.
Loyalists claim a woman who suffered a gunshot wound to her leg was hit by a republican sniper, but police say they have no reports of any shots being fired from the nationalist area.
Three pipe bombs were discovered in Cambrai Street yesterday morning and made safe in a clean-up operation after the riot.
Sir Reg Empey and Mr Seamus Mallon called for an immediate end to the violence and said there was an urgent need for dialogue.
"The rioting and attacks only serve to heighten fear and tension in this area. It is the people of north Belfast who are suffering as a result," they said. "A new environment needs to be created now, free from intimidation and violence, which will allow north Belfast to move forward."
The Progressive Unionist Party's Mr Billy Hutchinson welcomed the talks initiative and appealed for attacks on the police to stop but said he didn't believe the UVF were involved in the disturbances.