Nationalist and loyalist politicians were tonight locked in a desperate bid to resolve the north Belfast school dispute after the protest reached a new level of violence.
Three men were arrested after a blast bomb - an improvised explosive device - was thrown at police lines while Catholic children passed by them on their way to the Holy Cross primary school this morning.
Two RUC officers sustained shrapnel wounds and two others were treated for minor injuries as violence erupted in the flashpoint Ardoyne area.
The attack took place as politicians engaged in frantic behind the scenes efforts to broker a deal.
As his office staged urgent talks with political representatives from the area, Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid, who will cut short his summer holiday to return to Belfast tomorrow, called for an end to the protests.
He claimed the vicious street disturbances were dragging the reputation of Northern Ireland around the world once again through the mud.
"Young children have been subjected to appalling attacks - another generation introduced to the shameful side of our society," he said.
"Any legitimate grievances of protesters have been drowned out by this violent sectarian bigotry . . . What we have seen develop in the past few days is the path to barbarism. I cannot believe that the people of north Belfast want that."
The dispute originally erupted in June when loyalist residents in the Upper Ardoyne blocked the route of the Holy Cross pupils and their parents to the school.
The residents claimed nationalists taking their children to the school were using the route to intimidate Protestants - an allegation angrily denied by the parents.
Today's blast-bomb attack was a dangerous new twist to the loyalist campaign against the schoolchildren using the route.
It followed another night of serious disturbances in Ardoyne with bursts of automatic gunfire, as well as attacks on police lines with petrol, blast and nail bombs.
Sources at today's talks at Stormont between Northern Ireland Office Security Minister Ms Jane Kennedy and local politicians said a number of proposals were being put to the Government.
An SDLP delegation made up of Assembly members Mr Alban Maginness, Councillor Mr Martin Morgan and local representative Mr Joleen Connolly said they had put forward ideas and had stressed the need for dialogue against a calm atmosphere.
"This community needs breathing space and it is up to those who have influence with the protesters to use it in a positive way." Mr Maginness said.
Progressive Unionist Assembly member Mr Billy Hutchinson, who was one of the first local politicians to condemn the "thuggish behaviour" of the loyalists who threw the pipe bomb, called for structured talks.
Mr Hutchinson, whose party is linked to the Ulster Volunteer Force, later accepted he had helped inflame the tense situation.
He said: "I was disgusted to be a loyalist this morning when I saw that happen and I won't change that statement . . . But I will stand with this community to protect their rights and I will argue for them as an elected representative."
Sinn Fein has tabled a motion for debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly members next Monday, calling on MLAs to support "the right to education of schoolchildren attending Holy Cross Primary School in North Belfast".
Party president Mr Gerry Adams today called on loyalists to abandon the protest, alleging some hardline politicians and loyalist paramilitaries were exploiting the situation.
"There can be no excuse, no justification for the sectarian abuse and violence directed at the children and their parents as they try to make their way to school," Mr Adams said.
"Children have a right to education and a right to travel to and from their school free from threat and intimidation. The blockade of the Holy Cross School and the loyalist protest should end now."
PA