The Lower Newtownards Road was again the scene of sectarian clashes on Wednesday as 300 loyalist protesters blocked off the area with burnt out vehicles in a stand-off with security forces.

Though the area was later reported calm, during violent scenes earlier in the day a number of lorries and a bus were hijacked and set on fire, blocking the Lower Newtownards Road between Brison Street and Templemore Avenue. Police who had closed off the surrounding area for a time reopened roads amid a heavy security presence.

The unrest began at around 11am on Wednesday as a large number of loyalists gathered following what they claimed was an assault on a teenager by a senior republican. This was rejected by Short Strand residents who claim that nationalists were targeted as they attended a nearby doctor's surgery.

Saint Matthew's Catholic Church on the Lower Newtownards Road, which was holding a funeral Mass at the time, was subjected to a sustained attack by a mob throwing bottles and bricks. Sinn Féin's Joe O'Donnell said that mourners were hit by the barrage of missiles and there were some injuries. The mourners were able to leave the church a short time later through a side door.

Local representatives have been involved in a series of face-to-face meetings in an attempt to defuse the situation amid accusations that loyalist and republican paramilitaries are orchestrating the violence. East Belfast PUP assembly member David Ervine – who has admitted that the UVF, to which his party is linked, have been involved in the clashes - held meetings with the Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams.

First Minister David Trimble has called off a planned meeting with former US President Bill Clinton in Enniskillen today, opting instead to travel London for crisis talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair. Before he left, Mr Trimble issued a strong statement to Sinn Féin, saying: "I don't want any excuses. I don't want any lies. The truth of the matter is that what we have seen in east Belfast in recent weeks is simple naked aggression."

Mr Trimble said that the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister had a responsibility to prevent more violence from occurring.

The standoff is a further escalation in the serious street violence which erupted on Friday evening. Rioting over the weekend saw dozens injured and five people shot - including one police officer who received a bullet wound to the leg.

During the unrest, police fired a number of shots after they came under attack from a gunman in the nationalist Short Strand enclave. The police say that the gunman was wounded in the exchange and dragged away by the crowd.

(GMcG)