Inquiry call follows further clashes

The Progressive Unionist Party has called for an inquiry into how the police dealt with trouble in north Belfast on Tuesday.

There were serious disturbances on the Limestone Road when rival nationalist and loyalist groups clashed.

Petrol bombs were thrown and a number of police officers injured in the violence.

Trouble began at about 1830 BST when officers came under petrol bomb attack in the Newington Street area.

As trouble escalated, police fired one plastic baton round as they were attacked by a barrage of bricks, bottles and masonry

PSNI spokesman

The area was later reported to be quiet but tense.

PUP assembly member Billy Hutchinson said Protestant residents were unhappy with how the police dealt with the disturbances.

A police spokesman said several officers had been injured by bricks and missiles.

The police spokesman said: "As trouble escalated, police fired one plastic baton round as they were attacked by a barrage of bricks, bottles and masonry."

There have been disturbances in north Belfast on an almost daily basis.

Hurling stones

Meanwhile, police were called to a disturbance between youths in the Markets area near the centre of Belfast on Tuesday.

The trouble started earlier at nearby Central Station, one of the city's main railway stations.

A spokesman for the Northern Ireland transport company Translink said some trains were delayed for up to 15 minutes after clashes between rival factions.

The police said a Citybus was stoned on East Bridge Street near the station.

On Monday, police and soldiers came under petrol bomb and pipe bomb attack after clashes between rival groups in north Belfast.

A hijacked lorry was set on fire but there were no reports of injuries.