Loyalists and nationalists clashed in north Belfast yesterday evening. Rocks and bottles were thrown and hand-to-hand battles fought between crowds on Duncairn Gardens and Limestone Road.
There were also early reports last night of shots being fired in the Short Strand area of east Belfast, the scene of recent sectarian street disturbances. An RUC spokesman said there were no reports of any injuries.
Community leaders from both sides blamed those from the other community for starting the violence. After almost two hours, the RUC succeeded in separating the crowds. Community leaders on Limestone Road encouraged the crowds to disperse. In Duncairn Gardens, a stand-off remained between loyalists and nationalists, separated by the RUC.
The RUC was subjected to a petrol-bomb attack by loyalists and sporadic stone and bottle throwing by nationalists. No injuries were reported.
Meanwhile, loyalist paramilitaries have been blamed for a petrol-bomb attack on pensioners' houses in east Belfast. The residents escaped injury but two bungalows in the nationalist Short Strand were seriously damaged and three more suffered smoke damage.
Mr Joe O'Donnell, a local Sinn Fein councillor, said he believed the petrol-bombing was part of an orchestrated campaign by loyalists and said it followed several attacks during rioting last Thursday. "Loyalists had said then, `We'll be back to burn your pensioners out.' "
Local representatives of the UUP, PUP and DUP also condemned the attack, but Mr Sam my Wilson of the DUP alleged tensions had been stoked up by Sinn Fein. Meanwhile, the RUC said it was still investigating the circumstances behind the discovery of a man in a coma at his flat in north Belfast on Sunday night. Mr Mark O'Keeffe (58) was discovered with severe head injuries by a neighbour. Police originally said they believed he had received the injuries in an attack. His condition was said to be critical but stable.
In Derry city, a restaurant was badly burnt after robbers set it on fire. The shutters of the Cappuccino in Foyle Street were forced open and its till emptied.