Peter Hain today expressed his fear that Ulster was returning to a "hideous dark past" after loyalist paramilitaries opened fire on police and soldiers for two nights of the worst violence in the province for a decade.
The Northern Ireland Secretary challenged paramilitary loyalists to decide whether they wanted to become known as "police killers" as it emerged that at least 50 officers had been hurt in the street battles which blazed throughout the weekend.
"This is taking Northern Ireland, or attempting to take it, back to a hideous dark past," Mr Hain said.
"These were serious attempts to kill police in some instances. This is not loyalism but gangsterism masquerading in this community. These communities are being torn apart by their own paramilitary groups."
Commuters in Belfast were today struggling back to work through roads littered with burnt-out cars and shattered glass folllowing the weekend's mayhem which saw rioters hurl petrol bombs and fire shots as the citys streets came to resemble a war zone.
The violence, triggered by a 100-yard diversion to the route of an Orange Order march, set off copycat riots in deprived estates in neighbouring areas across the city and in neighbouring towns.
At least 50 shots were fired at police and soldiers on Saturday evening in west and north Belfast. The security forces returned live fire seven times. They discharged 450 baton rounds. About 1,000 police and 1,000 soldiers were deployed to deal with the violence.
There was also serious rioting in Ballymena, where petrol bombs were thrown at the police, before trouble spread to Ahoghill, where youths gathered setting cars on fire, damaging houses and throwing fireworks at police. Cars were hijacked and roads were also blocked in Ballyclare, Glengormley, Rathcoole, Larne and Carrickfergus, as the violence spread.
Yesterday, New Barnsley police station, in the west of Belfast, was rocked by explosions. A car and van were crashed into its metal gates and attempts made to set a security hut ablaze with gas cylinders.
Loyalist paramilitary gunmen fired at least 50 shots at security lines during a 12-hour stand-off yesterday morning. Police and soldiers discharged 430 baton rounds and used water canons in a bid to drive back rioters. They also returned live fire.
Seven guns were seized and a bomb-making factory was discovered in the Highfield estate, north Belfast. One man was critically injured after being caught in an explosion, while another member of the public was wounded in the gunfire.
In Bangor, Co Down, a bus was burned by men who robbed passengers and ordered them out.
A pregnant woman and a man were dragged from their car by a gang during an attempted hijacking. In Glengormley, Co Antrim, a building and three vehicles were wrecked by petrol bombers who targeted a car sales showroom.
More than 20 suspects were arrested for rioting, and two others charged over the earlier disorder were due to appear at Belfast Magistrates Court today.