SDLP to meet NIO Minister over interface violence

As sectarian violence continued unabated last night, the latest round of talks between NIO ministers and political representatives aimed at defusing the worsening situation along interface areas will be held later today.

Northern Ireland Minister Des Browne is set to receive a delegation from the SDLP at 4pm today, having held earlier consultations with the UUP and Sinn Fein. The meeting follows on from another night of serious disturbances in the Short Strand area in east Belfast where police were forced to fire a number baton rounds at rioting mobs.

The SDLP delegation, comprising of councillors Martin Morgan, Margaret Walsh, Pat Convery and Pat McCarthy, have warned that the interface violence must end "before someone loses their life".

Mr Morgan said: “The ongoing violence in areas of Belfast is devastating local communities. We have suffered a summer of nightly attacks and intimidation.

"These attacks must be brought to an end before someone else loses their life. We will be meeting the Minister and relaying the concerns of those in the community.”

Senior representatives from the UUP, Sinn Fein and the DUP have all questioned the policing strategy in the Short Strand area.

Sinn Fein chairman Mitchel McLaughlin went so far as to call on the Police Ombudsman to investigate the policing policy, with both the UUP's Sir Reg Empey and DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson calling for a permanent police presence on the nationalist side of the Short Strand interface.

(KmcA)