Protests linked to the Orange Order's re-routed Whiterock parade have caused severe traffic disruption in the city.

Several roads are blocked in what a DUP councillor said was "disgust" over a ban on the parade.

The march is barred from going through security gates on the Springfield Road, but must use a former factory site.

There is a major police and Army presence in the area. Screens have also been erected in front of houses.

The police said the Army and PSNI had come under "sustained petrol bomb attack" in the West Circular Road area and Upper Crumlin Road.

Almost 100 people blocked off three lanes of traffic behind Belfast City Hall just after 1500 BST.

Some of the protesters had their face covered with scarves, others were wearing hoods. The police closed the road for a time, before the crowd moved to Shaftsbury Square.

Another group of protesters tried to block the Albert Bridge in east Belfast. They were attacked by residents in the Short Strand.

The tension was defused by police who are currently in riot gear keeping both sides apart.

Orangeman Raymond Speers explained the reason for the protest.

"In the grand scale of things, just to disrupt traffic is not a heinous crime when you look back over the years of history in Northern Ireland," he said.

"It's frustration of Protestant people as to what they can do to have their ordinary voice heard. We just feel so frustrated that there is a cultural veto through the Parades Commission for the republican/nationalist community."

'Loyalist paramilitaries'

Following earlier protests, the Grosvenor Road and Westlink are now open. However, part of the Albertbridge Road and Shaftsbury Square remain closed.

Meanwhile, a van has also been hijacked at Ohio Street, but recovered a short time later. No-one was injured.

On Friday night, a senior police officer said he feared loyalist paramilitaries could cause trouble at the march.

Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland appealed to community representatives to prevent tensions rising at the parade.

After a request by unionists on Friday, the Parades Commission reviewed its ruling on the Whiterock Parade, but did not change it.

It was re-routed by the Parades Commission through the former Mackies site instead of Workman Avenue, off the mainly nationalist Springfield Road.

A feeder march on "a non-contentious part" of the road has been allowed by the commission.

Also on Friday, Springfield Road at Lanark Way was closed for a time as loyalists protested against the re-routing for a third day.

In a statement, the Belfast County Grand Orange Lodge said "in spite of all the risks taken," the Orangemen were "faced with a further attempt to humiliate and suppress their culture".

It said nationalist and republicans would come to understand that "exercising a cultural veto" through their "Parades Commission puppets" would not be allowed to continue "without consequences".

DUP leader Ian Paisley and the UUP's Sir Reg Empey met Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde about the parade route.

They submitted what they said was new evidence to the Parades Commission, asking the body to review its decision, but their request was refused.

The Orange Order first shelved the re-routed parade in June, which had been opposed by nationalist Springfield Road residents. It was re-scheduled for Saturday, but again restricted.

In its determination on the march, the Parades Commission cited "a possible adverse effect on community relations" if the march was allowed on the Order's preferred route.

The Parades Commission was set up in 1997 to make decisions on whether or not restrictions should be imposed on controversial parades during Northern Ireland's marching season.