Loyalists continue school run protest
Loyalists were set to stage new protests in north Belfast today when Catholic children return to school.
Organisers have promised a peaceful demonstration and say it will be silent as the youngsters are taken to Holy Cross Primary School in Ardoyne.
Low-key negotiations meanwhile were continuing in a bid to steer the dispute towards a resolution - against the background of intensified political activity aimed at saving the wider peace process.
Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid, who is due to meet protesting residents tomorrow evening, is scheduled to have talks today with Richard Haass, US President George Bush’s special envoy to Northern Ireland.
The meeting in London will be the first in a round of soundings being taken by Mr Haass in both Britain and Ireland as the pro-Agreement parties attempt to fend off another crisis in two weeks’ time.
They need a deal on unionist demands for IRA disarmament and republican calls for more police reform and demilitarisation by September 22.
At that time, new Assembly elections will be called unless the Government has already suspended the institutions for a third time.
The Northern Ireland Assembly, which was created by the 1998 Agreement, has its first full meeting since the summer break today, a session which is expected to be dominated by a debate on the Holy Cross row.
They will debate a motion on the issue tabled by Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly.
Politicians and community leaders on both sides of the sectarian divide have said they are encouraged by the Protestant residents’ assurances that they will remain silent for the children’s passage along Ardoyne Road today.
Images were flashed around the world last week of terrified young girls running the gauntlet of sectarian violence, including a blast bomb explosion.
All sides are currently considering proposals put forward by Dr Reid and the power-sharing executive on Friday, aimed at resolving the row.
Protestant residents have complained that the root of the protests has been the erosion of their community because of Government neglect and sectarian attacks by republicans from neighbouring streets.
North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds said: ‘‘Compared with where we were last week enormous progress has been made although it still is very difficult.
‘‘A lot of hard work has gone on behind the scenes and I hope that work will continue.’’
