Traders call protest crisis summit

Holly Reynolds, aged four, joins peace protesters at Belfast City Hall

Loyalists react after being attacked by nationalists throwing stones from the nationalist Short Strand area of Belfast

Loyalists attack the police as the protesters make their way back to east Belfast past the nationalist Short Strand

Riot police stand next to a burned out car after loyalist protesters attacked police lines in east Belfast

Loyalists clash with PSNI officers on the Newtownards road in east Belfast this afternoon.

A police officer is injured after loyalist protesters attacked police lines at the Albertbridge Road near the nationalist Short Strand area of Belfast

The Union flag demonstration at Belfast City Hall today.

A PSNI officer is treated after being injured following rioting which occurred after Saturday's Union flag protest in Belfast city centre.

Loyalists protesters march through Belfast city centre

Rangers fans show their support to the Union flag protesters in Belfast during the Irn Bru Scottish Third Division match at Ibrox, Glasgow.

Willie Frazer pictured at Belfast City Hall.

A peace protester pictured at Belfast City Hall before the loyalist protest arrived.

A PSNI officer is injured during rioting in the Newtownards Road area of east Belfast on Saturday afternoon as a loyalist flag parade returned from Belfast City Hall.

Loyalist leader Billy Hutchinson on the Newtownards Road on Saturday afternoon

A loyalist pictured in east Belfast after Saturday's flag protest at City Hall

A loyalist protester at Belfast City Hall during Saturday's flag protest

A loyalist woman wheels a child through police lines on East Bridge Street as the protest makes its way back to east Belfast.

Loyalists attack police at the bottom of Castlereagh Street.

PSNI officers pictured at the bottom of Castlereagh Street.

Loyalists protesters pictured at Belfast City Hall on Saturday afternoon.

A injured police man is helped by a colleague after trouble broke out following Saturday's Union flag protest.

Loyalist youths confront police at the bottom of Castlereagh Street.

Loyalists protesters pictured at Belfast City Hall.

Saturday's Union flag protest at Belfast City Hall.

Loyalist protesters make their way through the city centre to east Belfast.

General view of disturbances in O'Neill's Road, Newtownabbey last night

Loyalists carry out a protest in Great Victoria Street, Belfast last night

Loyalists carryi out a protest on Great Victoria Street, Belfast last night

Loyalists carry out a protest in the Sandy Row are of south Belfast last night

Loyalists carry out a protest in the Sandy Row area of south Belfast last night

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 11th January 2013 - General view of Loyalists carrying out a protest in the Sandy Row are of south Belfast this evening.Loyalists have been protesting across Northern Ireland after Belfast City Council restricted the number of days the Union Flag can fly over Belfast City Hall.Picture by Kelvin Byes / Press Eye.

Nick Williams goes over to score for Ulster, tackled by Glasgow's Josh Strauss

Ulster's Nick Williams celebrates scoring his try

Ulster's Jared Payne celebrates scoring a late try with Paul Marshall

Ulster's Craig Gilroy is tackled by Glasgow's Tom Ryder and Duncan Weir

Ulster's Tom Court celebrates after the game

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 11th January 2013 - General view of disturbances in O'Neills Road Newtownabbey this evening.Loyalists have been protesting across Northern Ireland after Belfast City Council restricted the number of days the Union Flag can fly over Belfast City Hall.Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

14 January 2013

Belfast traders have called a crisis meeting to discuss the downturn caused by the Union flag protests.

Talks will be held at what was once the most bombed hotel in Europe, the luxury Europa, in the city centre on Wednesday.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) estimated £15 million was lost to the economy over Christmas because some people avoided the commercial centre.

Almost 100 police officers have been injured during sporadic rioting and parts of Belfast brought to a standstill by loyalist road blocks.

Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce president Joe Jordan said: "There is no doubt that the past two months have been incredibly difficult for traders in Belfast. We want to hear the first-hand experience of businesses, along with their views and opinions on the current crisis."

The trouble was prompted by Belfast City Council's decision to only fly the Union flag from the City Hall on designated days like royal birthdays.

Businesses in Belfast's city centre struggled to cope with the impact of the resultant protests, as some customers avoided the area over fears of encountering trouble. Many restaurants and shops have reported declined levels of custom.

Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson and Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness are due to meet with the British and Irish governments later this week to discuss the protests.

The DUP leader said talks with Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers and Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore would address all outstanding issues. He has previously warned that potential and current investors are watching the violence.

Sectarian clashes on Saturday between loyalists returning from a city centre protest and republicans living in Short Strand in east Belfast were broken up by police, who braved bricks, fireworks and other missiles thrown from the angry crowd. They responded with water cannon and non-lethal baton rounds. Around a thousand people attended a peace rally at Belfast City Hall on Sunday.