Political leaders in Belfast tonight called for an end to sectarian mob violence on the streets of the city.
During a meeting called by the Ulster Unionist Lord Mayor, Mr Jim Rodgers, the parties pledged to do everything in their power to alleviate the suffering in the north of the city.
They have arranged a series of meetings with community leaders, local clergy, business and trade union representatives, and residents directly affected by the ongoing civil disorder.
All of the major parties on the council apart from Dr Ian Paisley's hardline Democratic Unionists were involved in the 90-minute meeting.
Mr Rodgers described it as a very positive meeting. He said: "We didn't get involved in the blame game. It was a case of looking at the present situation and how we can bring it to an end."
Throughout the summer months there has been an almost nightly series of violent confrontations between Protestant and Catholic mobs in north Belfast.
Paramilitaries on both sides have been accused of stoking up the tensions, which have seen guns, petrol bombs and blast bombs used during the worst of the rioting.
Mr Rodgers said he was prepared to talk directly with paramilitary groups who have been active on the streets for a number of weeks.
Meanwhile, DUP councillors refused to attend because of the presence of Sinn Fein.
They said in a statement: "A cross-party meeting with Sinn Fein would be a futile exercise. Sinn Fein/IRA are orchestrating a sectarian terror campaign against vulnerable Protestant communities in the north of the city.
"If they had the desire and the will they would already have turned off the violence but it is clear that there is no desire to do so."
Mr Rodgers said he was disappointed at the DUP's decision not to attend. "I can understand the concerns expressed by the DUP but I don't think that by staying away it's going to help matters," she said.
PA