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29 police hurt in flag row clashes
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Riot police stand next to a burned out car after loyalist protesters attacked police lines in east Belfast
Loyalists react after being attacked by nationalists throwing stones from the nationalist Short Strand area of Belfast
A police officer is injured after loyalist protesters attacked police lines at the Albertbridge Road near 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
Loyalists clash with PSNI officers on the Newtownards road in east Belfast this afternoon.
Loyalists clash with PSNI officers on the Newtownards road in east Belfast this afternoon.
Loyalists clash with PSNI officers on the Newtownards road in east Belfast this afternoon.
The Union flag demonstration at Belfast City Hall today.
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.
A PSNI officer is treated after being injured following rioting which occurred after Saturday's Union flag protest in Belfast city centre.
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.
Lynne Cameron
Loyalists protesters march through Belfast city centre
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 pictured in east Belfast after Saturday's flag protest at City Hall
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.
Loyalists protesters pictured at Belfast City Hall.
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Saturday's Union flag protest at Belfast City Hall.
Loyalist protesters make their way through the city centre to east Belfast.
Loyalists attack the police as the protesters make their way back to east Belfast past the nationalist Short Strand
General view of disturbances in O'Neill's Road, Newtownabbey last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalists carry out a protest in Great Victoria Street, Belfast last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalists carryi out a protest on Great Victoria Street, Belfast last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalists carry out a protest in the Sandy Row are of south Belfast last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalists carryi out a protest on Great Victoria Street, Belfast last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalists carry out a protest in the Sandy Row are of south Belfast last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalists carry out a protest in the Sandy Row area of south Belfast last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
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.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Nick Williams goes over to score for Ulster, tackled by Glasgow's Josh Strauss
Darren Kidd
Ulster's Nick Williams celebrates scoring his try
©INPHO/Presseye/Darren Kidd
Ulster's Jared Payne celebrates scoring a late try with Paul Marshall
©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Jared Payne scores for Ulster
Darren Kidd
Ulster's Craig Gilroy is tackled by Glasgow's Tom Ryder and Duncan Weir
Darren Kidd
Ulster's Tom Court celebrates after the game
©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
General view of disturbances in O'Neill's Road, Newtownabbey last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalists carry out a protest in the Sandy Row area of south Belfast last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
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.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
General view of disturbances in O'Neill's Road, Newtownabbey last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
General view of disturbances in O'Neill's Road, Newtownabbey last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
General view of disturbances in O'Neill's Road, Newtownabbey last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
General view of disturbances in O'Neill's Road, Newtownabbey last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
General view of disturbances in O'Neill's Road, Newtownabbey last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
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.
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
General view of disturbances in O'Neill's Road, Newtownabbey last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
General view of disturbances in O'Neill's Road, Newtownabbey last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
General view of disturbances in O'Neill's Road, Newtownabbey last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
General view of disturbances in O'Neill's Road, Newtownabbey last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
General view of disturbances in O'Neill's Road, Newtownabbey last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
General view of disturbances in O'Neill's Road, Newtownabbey last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
General view of disturbances in O'Neill's Road, Newtownabbey last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
General view of disturbances in O'Neill's Road, Newtownabbey last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalists carryi out a protest on Great Victoria Street, Belfast last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
Loyalists carry out a protest in the Sandy Row area of south Belfast last night
Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye
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Northern Ireland's most senior police officer has praised his "courageous" colleagues after sectarian rioting left 29 members of the force injured.
Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable Matt Baggott said the vast majority of people were grateful for their efforts as fireworks, bricks and other missiles rained down on them.
Violence broke out in east Belfast between republicans and loyalists returning from a protest at Belfast City Hall over a council decision to restrict the flying of the Union flag there.
The chief constable said: "This was a difficult operation dealing with a large number of people determined to cause disorder and violence. My colleagues brought the situation under control with exceptional courage and professionalism."
Trouble erupted on Saturday afternoon on the Albertbridge Road near the nationalist Short Strand and police separated the opposing factions. As the loyalists approached the Short Strand there was violence across the interface with missiles being thrown by rival factions, which resulted in a number of properties being damaged in the Short Strand.
Police used water cannon and fired six baton rounds as they forced the two sides apart. Four officers were taken to hospital, two have been discharged.
Mr Baggott added: "I know the vast majority of people will be grateful for their efforts. Police will continue to engage with all those committed to finding a solution to these issues."
Demonstrators were returning from a 500-strong protest outside Belfast City Hall against the council's decision to restrict the flying of the Union flag to designated days like royal holidays. According to police they were made aware that the preferred route home would bypass part of the Short Strand. Instead they gathered at a bridge barred by officers then broke away and ran towards Short Strand by different roads.
Senior politicians from Belfast, Dublin and London are to meet next week to discuss the protests after more than 40 days of road blocks and sporadic violence by loyalists failed to produce a solution. Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson and his deputy Martin McGuinness will join Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers and Ireland's Tanaiste (deputy leader) Eamon Gilmore.
Ms Villiers urged restraint. She said: "We can't afford to have these continuing protests damage our economy and destroy potential jobs for Northern Ireland's young people."
PA
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