Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid today warned people living in riot-ravaged north Belfast not to be manipulated by elements plotting to wreck the peace process.
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Dr Reid's call came after another night of fierce sectarian clashes between loyalist and republican mobs left a man in hospital with bullet wounds to his face.
Emerging from a meeting with a Sinn Féin delegation to discuss the continuing violence, he said: "I would urge those in the communities which are afflicted by that not to allow themselves to be used by those who have a wider purpose which is to destroy the political process."
The latest sectarian battles saw police attacked with petrol bombs, stones and bottles in the flashpoint Ardoyne district.
There were also reports of gunmen opening fire on officers and rounds of automatic fire in the nearby loyalist Glenbryn area.
One man who was wounded was taken for treatment to minor facial injuries which the RUC say could have been caused by a ricocheting bullet.
Police have also confirmed up to twelve shots were fired into the loyalist Tiger's Bay area of north Belfast. No one was injured.
But as efforts continue to halt the violence, Dr Reid insisted dialogue was the only way to ease the tensions which have gripped parts of the city.
"I understand that there is a feeling of isolation and in some cases of alienation by the communities which is particularly high during a period when there is political discussion going on, an attempt to move forward the Good Friday Agreement.
"But I would urge everyone to do everything they can to promote the dialogue between the two sides."
He also paid tribute to the RUC, pointing out that officers have been caught in the middle of the raging sectarian battles.
Dr Reid said: "If they weren't there, very often standing between the two communities, there would be violence, injury and possibly death on a scale that is far greater than anything that is happening just now."
After the meeting Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey outlined how he had told Dr Reid he was convinced loyalist paramilitaries had returned to hostilities.
"Many of the loyalist ceasefires have indeed broken down," the Northern Ireland Assembly member for West Belfast claimed.
"You cannot have individuals within the loyalist community for example, running around making pipe bombs and blast bombs to the extent that has been happening.
"Therefore there is a clear evidence that the UDA in particular, but not exclusively, have been involved in this pogrom against our community."
Mr Maskey added he was "satisfied" there had been no breach of the IRA's ceasefire.
"No one has yet made any allegation of that and no-one has certainly brought any evidence to suggest that," he said. But one of the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party representatives in the area accused the Provisionals of attacking outnumbered loyalists in the area.
"What is significant is that these things are happening at vulnerable points for the Protestant community," said North Belfast councillor Nelson McCausland.
He claimed the sprawling republican stronghold of the Ardoyne dominated tiny pockets of people who he represents.
"It would not be the case that loyalists would start something in that situation, it would be madness for them to do it," he added.
PA