Two police officers were recovering from gunshot wounds today after rioting erupted in a sectarian flashpoint area of Belfast.
They were hit by shotgun pellets during rioting in the Limestone Road area but their injuries were not thought to be life-threatening, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said.
Last night's disturbances erupted despite appeals from loyalists to their community to ensure that this weekend passed off peacefully ahead of today's Old Firm soccer match between Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtic.
A number of police officers were injured and a bus had a window broken during the disturbances which erupted shortly after 9pm, a PSNI spokeswoman said.
She said police came under attack as they tried to deal with 60 youths who were stoning each other in Limestone Road and Hallidays Road.
A police vehicle was also damaged as officers were attacked with bricks and the army were called in to assist.
Police said calm returned to the Limestone Road area at around 10.30pm.
Sinn Fein blamed loyalists for starting the trouble.
North Belfast councillor Gerard Brophy said the violence flared when a group of loyalists tried to attack children going to the shops.
"There have been disturbances along the Hallidays Road and Newington Street involving about 50 loyalists," he claimed. "There have been shots. This is street violence orchestrated by the Ulster Defence Association, similar to the disturbances we have had in recent weeks.
"These incidents have followed statements from the Ulster Political Research Group appealing for calm like this latest one on the eve of the Old Firm game.
"It shows that these statements are a bit of a joke. This violence is clearly being orchestrated by the UDA."
PA