Loyalists stoned police last night after mounting a protest at a republican parade. More than 150 loyalists staged the protest in Ballymena, Co Antrim, at the first republican parade in the town.
The parade passed off peacefully despite police in full riot gear having to put themselves between the rival factions.
The event passed off amid heightened tensions following a series of loyalist attacks on Catholic homes both in the area and other parts of Northern Ireland.
The parade, complete with bands, was in full swing when loyalists started to stage a protest. Police were forced to act to keep the rival factions apart when republican supporters ran towards a car park where the loyalists were protesting.
After discussions between police chiefs and the republicans they pulled back, but the loyalist protest continued for some time.
Later there was stoning of police by loyalists. A police spokesman said the stone throwers had been pushed back by officers into the Ballykeel estate and there were no reports of any injuries.
North Antrim SDLP Assembly member Sean Farren said it was welcome that the republican parade had passed off peacefully. But he said it had created unnecessary tensions in the town.
