Political efforts to quell street violence in Belfast have intensified following another night of trouble.
The Sinn Féin leadership met the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, in Downing Street, while President Bush's envoy, Mr Richard Haass, met the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid.
At Stormont, the Deputy First Minister told Assembly members of the need for unambiguous condemnation of the violence.
"We have to move beyond that sort of 'whataboutery' if we are to give people the clear leadership that is needed in circumstances where hotheads are trying to drive the agenda," Mr Mark Durkan said during Question Time yesterday.
Mr Gerry Adams insisted yesterday republicans were not orchestrating any of the street trouble in east and south Belfast, but he did admit that republicans were involved. The problems on the streets, he said, were due to the "crisis within unionism".
Police said that the trouble which erupted in the loyalist Donegall Pass area was planned. Supt Gordon Reid said accusations that the violence was in response to alleged police overreaction did not stand up. Shots were fired at police, cars were set alight and missiles were thrown at officers by up to 100 loyalist rioters. UVF involvement is suspected.
The continuation of serious street violence came up in discussions between the US envoy Mr Haass and the Northern Secretary during talks in London yesterday.
Mr Haass, due in Ireland for further talks today, said Washington had noted the deterioration on the streets "with growing concern".
He repeated calls for Sinn Féin to take its seats on the Policing Board if it is serious about peace.
"What I hope is that the republican movement makes the historic decision to complete its trajectory, to ultimately consign paramilitarism to the past and become simply a traditional political party," he said.
His appeal was in tune with British government thinking. Dr John Reid said yesterday there was no half-way house between violence and democracy.
Mr Tony Blair's official spokesman said all violence was "totally unacceptable" and the Prime Minister "expects leaders on all sides to do what they can".
British sources have indicated a belief that republicans are involved in street violence but are not guilty of organising it.