Sectarian clashes today flared in north Belfast.
Police and British army units were called to the Glenbryn and Ardoyne area to deal with a confrontation between loyalists and nationalists.
Rival factions threw stones, bottles and fireworks at each other at around 2.15 pm near Alliance Avenue.
However the security forces managed to bring the disturbances quickly under control.
Loyalist sources claimed at one stage a crowd of around 50 nationalists from the Ardoyne area faced an equal number of Glenbryn residents.
Mr Davy Mahood, of the Ulster Political Research Group, which is associated with the UDA, accused republicans of trying to goad loyalists into street clashes ahead of Saturday's Apprentice Boys demonstrations.
"We have been in the area trying to calm the situation down. However the atmosphere is very tense," he said.
"As far as we can see, there is an attempt to try and escalate trouble ahead of Saturday's parade."
Local Sinn Féin councillor Ms Margaret McClenaghan claimed a confrontation between children on both sides of the divide triggered the clashes.
"Basically children aged nine and ten started shouting at each other at Alliance Avenue and stones were thrown. That drew older children and adults and the situation just spiralled out of control," she said.
"Tensions are very high in this area ahead of Saturday. We have had two pipe bombs in recent days and petrol bombs and bolts were thrown from the loyalist side at Ardoyne last night.
"With a lot of visitors coming into Ardoyne right now for our annual festival, what Sinn Féin is saying is: people need to be vigilant and aware of how quickly a situation like this can develop.
"We are saying to adults in particular if you see kids at interfaces and a situation developing, get them out of the way to avoid trouble and for their own safety."
PA