Democratic Unionist leader the Rev Ian Paisley intervened tonight in a bid to prevent further rioting in Belfast linked to a loyalist paramilitary feud.
The North Antrim MP met Acting Assistant Chief Constable Wesley Wilson after clashes between loyalists and police in north Belfast last night resulted in 40 officers being injured and 11 plastic baton rounds being fired.
Loyalists linked the disorder in the Crumlin Road area of the city to police raids in the Woodvale area yesterday as part of a probe into a bitter loyalist paramilitary feud which has so far claimed the lives of three people.
With some residents accusing the police of acting in a heavy handed manner, the DUP leader said he was appalled by the violence and wanton destruction.
"Those involved need to realise that it is their own community that they are harming by their actions," Mr Paisley said.
"They are doing damage to properties and disrupting the lives of people within their own area. I would call upon those involved to step back and ensure that there are no repeats.
"If people in North Belfast have genuine grievances against the police, then I and my party colleagues in the constituency are more than happy to take up their cases but there can never be any excuse for attacking the police in this way."
Mr Paisley was joined at the meeting by East Antrim MP, Sammy Wilson - a memeber of Northern Ireland's Policing Board.
Residents had complained that during raids in connection with the feud between the Ulster Volunteer Force and the rival Loyalist Volunteer Force, police had used abusive language towards children.
But Mr Wilson said police had been subjected to an unjustified attack and he suspected the UVF had orchestrated the violence.
Police were attacked with a blast bomb, petrol and paint bombs, stones, bottles and golf balls during the disturbances which flared at around 5.30pm last night.
PA