The Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid has held talks with loyalist and republican political leaders in a bid to end the violence that has raged in east Belfast over the past four nights.
Dr Reid held separate talks with the Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams and Mr David Ervine, leader of the Progressive Unionist Party. The PUP has close links with the Ulster Volunteer Force.
The talks took place after five people were shot during the fourth consecutive night of sectarian violence in the Short Strand area.
"It is clear there is paramilitary involvement in these shootings. The Secretary of State wanted to talk to parties associated with the various groups," a source close to Dr Reid said.
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Earlier today, police chiefs said loyalist and republican paramilitaries were behind the vicious rioting, which left 19 PSNI officers injured.
Last night's trouble was again centred on the Lower Newtownards Road, where Protestants clashed with Catholics living in the adjacent Short Strand enclave.
Two Protestants were wounded by a republican gunman while a bus driver was injured by flying glass after his vehicle came under attack from loyalists in the area.
A police officer sustained a gunshot wound to his lower leg during battles involving up to 1,000 people.
A total of 13 shots were fired at security forces, who returned six rounds, hitting a gunman who was dragged away. Two arrests were made. Some 61 baton rounds were also discharged in a bid to disperse rioters hurling petrol bombs, bricks and bottles at police and army lines.
Assistant Chief Constable Mr Alan McQuillan said the Ulster Defence Association, Ulster Volunteer Force and the IRA were all driving the violence.
"On the loyalist side we see clear evidence that the UDA and UVF have been involved in this," he said. "Certainly in terms of the street disorder on the republican side we have seen large numbers of members of the IRA, many of them from outside the area. We believe that they are involved in organising the violence."
But he refused to comment on the state of the paramilitaries' ceasefires, saying it was a matter for Dr Reid.
Mr Ervine confirmed that he had a lengthy conversation by phone with Dr Reid but declined to discuss details. He admitted that members of the UVF have been involved in the violence of recent nights. "The UVF are undoubtedly involved but I am not sure what he means about orchestrating violence."
Meanwhile, Mr Adams tonight called for dialogue to bring an end to the trouble between the two communities.
He said both Protestant and Catholic families had suffered in the violence which has engulfed the area in the past few nights. "Wherever the situation started from, it has to stop. I think it is nothing short of a miracle that people have not been killed," he added. PA