East Belfast Leaders Call To End Violence

41 loyalist and community organisations in east Belfast have put their name to a leaflet calling for the end of street violence in relation to the union flag debate at Belfast City Hall.

A leaflet campaign was launched in the area on Thursday and featured a direct appeal to end the violence.

Violent street protests and riots have been a regular occurrence in parts of east Belfast since the Council voted to restrict the flying of the union flag on top of City Hall.

Stones, petrol bombs and bottles were thrown at the nationalist Short strand area on Saturday, when a group of protesters broke away from a PSNI-designated route.

Some nationalists from the Short Strand area retaliated, causing damage to houses on both sides of the community.

The message on the leaflet states: "The people of East Belfast plead that those involved in the current rioting to stop now. We would add that those who come into the area to riot and cause disturbance are not welcome.

"We who live, work or have a vested interest in East Belfast may have our differences of opinions about many matters, but we are UNITED in our determination to stop this community from suffering further.

"The rioting does absolutely nothing to promote any cause, but rather is damaging this community and causing further suffering. There have been issues with the PSNI and their tactics, however these have and continue to be raised and dealt with at the highest level."

It concludes: "The undersigned have their individual views about the current protests, but all the signatories support the right to peaceful legal protests. This plea is about stopping the pointless violence; fear and wanton destruction being caused by a few."

The Red Hand Comrades Association, the Progressive Unionist Party, Ballymacarrett District LOL and Westbourne Presbyterian Community Church are just a few of the 41 organisations that have signed the leaflet.

(IT)