Officers injured in Belfast riot

The rioting has left its mark on east Belfast

Two police officers have been injured during serious sectarian clashes in east Belfast.

A house in a Protestant area was destroyed by fire during the disturbances at the sectarian interface at Short Strand.

The leader of the loyalist Progressive Unionist Party, David Ervine, accused republicans of starting the trouble saying they were "playing political games".

But Sinn Fein councillor Joe' O'Donnell said the violence was initiated by loyalists.

David Ervine: Political games being played

Police were attacked by a crowd of up to 150 people in the nationalist Clandeboye Gardens when they were called to the area at 0300 BST on Saturday.

Petrol bombs, blast bombs and stones were thrown by the crowd.

The injuries to the police officers were not said to be life threatening.

"I think there are a number of political games being played," said David Ervine, who is also an east Belfast assembly member.

"There are a group of American observers due to take their position in the area because of a parade, so what better than to get the Prods (Protestants) wound up before those observers take their place?

"I hope those behind the orchestration realise just how far they are pushing everyone."

Stone throwing

But this was disputed by Joe O'Donnell who said the trouble began shortly before midnight when loyalists began throwing stones and bottles at nationalist homes.

"It continued right up to 2.30am when a number of blast bombs were thrown," he said.

"I actually witnessed two of them being thrown over the wall, with the then result of petrol bombs being thrown from the Clandeboye Drive area and regrettably a number of houses being damaged."

East Belfast Ulster Unionist assembly member Sir Reg Empey, who visited the area on Saturday morning, said republicans were attempting to force Protestant residents from their homes.

"This place has been ruined the people are being driven out of it. It is ethnic cleansing and there is no other way of describing it.

"The place is stinking of petrol and completely covered with debris and the houses are destroyed," he said.

"When is the secretary of state who is responsible for security going to wake up to the fact that this is occurring and people are being asked to live under these conditions - it is absolutely crazy."