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Riots erupt again in N Ireland
From correspondents in Belfast
16sep05

POLICE in Northern Ireland were attacked with petrol bombs, bricks and bottles today in renewed rioting by Protestant demonstrators.

Officers responded with water cannon to disperse a crowd of about 150 people in north Belfast.

A car was set on fire after being hijacked, and one person arrested, police said.

Earlier in the day police had removed protesters blocking several main roads around the city.

The protests by loyalists, who want to maintain Northern Ireland's links to Britain, come against a backdrop of violence within the community.

The clashes erupted on Saturday over a ban on a parade through Roman Catholic areas and exposed deep frustration among many Protestants with the 1998 peace process that was intended to end three decades of strife in Northern Ireland.

More than 80 officers have been wounded since the weekend when they came under a hail of live rounds, paint bombs, pipe bombs, petrol bombs and paving stones.

Ten civilians were also injured and vehicles were torched.

Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland said earlier that roadblocks could not be tolerated.

"We intend to keep access to hospitals open. People can make protests but they have to respect the law. We are currently facing about half a dozen blocks where women and children are occupying the road,'' he said.

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