Sinn Féin's North Belfast representative, Gerry Kelly has called on unionist politicians and community leaders to help stop loyalist violence in interface areas.

His comments followed an incident in the Deerpark Road area of the city when a man was hit in the face with a brick.

It is believed the man was attacked by a group of loyalists as a Catholic family moved out of the area following threats.

Mr Kelly blamed the UDA for the trouble. He said: “It is time that Unionist political leaders and community leaders used their energies to bring an end to this anti-nationalist pogrom.”

“Thirty years ago unionist paramilitaries tried to burn people out their homes in exactly this same area. This week alone two families have been forced to leave the area because of attacks and intimidation."

Protestant community workers said that while windows had been smashed by loyalists the violence had actually come from drunken youths and not paramilitaries and that republicans had also been involved in some of the disturbances.

(MB)