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September 12, 2005

Orde: UDA & UVF Ceasefires Broken

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News about Ireland & the Irish

BT 09/12/05 Orde: UDA & UVF Ceasefires Have Been Broken
SM 09/12/05 Hain To Rule On Loyalist Ceasefires
BT 09/12/05 Blaze Rips Through Bank And DUP Advice Centre
BT 09/12/05 Bangor Rioters Rob And Burn Bus
BT 09/12/05 Stricken City Smoulders As Life Goes On
BB 09/12/05 Sick Pensioner 'Stranded By Riot'
BT 09/12/05 Police Fire 500 Baton Rounds To Restore Calm
BT 09/12/05 How Trouble Unfolded
BT 09/12/05 Whiterock Orange Parade: 10 Yrs Of Tension
BT 09/12/05 Prime Ministers Meet In Wake Of City Rioting
IO 09/12/05 Hain & Orde To Discuss Loyalist Violence
BB 09/12/05 Hain: Orangemen 'Joined Police Attacks'
BB 09/12/05 Unionist Leaders 'Shirked Blame'
BT 09/12/05 Orde Blames Orangemen For Violence
IO 09/12/05 Hain Defends Orde's Criticism Of OO Rioters
BT 09/12/05 Order's Shock At Criticism
BT 09/12/05 Unionists Play Blame Game With Commission
BT 09/12/05 Loyalists 'Provoking Youths'
BT 09/12/05 Church Leaders Appeal For End To Trouble
BB 09/12/05 Can Loyalist Violence Be Stopped?
BB 09/12/05 'Sectarian Attack' On Two Houses
BT 09/12/05 US Strategy For 1st Use Of Nuclear Weapons
UT 09/12/05 Tidy Town Winners: Ennis; Moynalty; Lismore

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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=661247

Orde: Ceasefires Have Been Broken

Hain put on spot after second night of violence

By Chris Thornton and Jonathan McCambridge
cthornton@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
12 September 2005

LOYALIST violence presented Secretary of State Peter Hain
with a serious test today after the Chief Constable broke
precedent to declare that the UDA and UVF have broken their
ceasefires.

Police were today pushing forward one of their largest ever
investigations into the apparently co-ordinated outbursts
of rioting that gripped the streets of Northern Ireland on
Saturday and Sunday.

Police have already made 21 arrests but that number is
expected to rise rapidly through the week as the PSNI Crime
Operations department focuses on paramilitary involvement
in the rioting.

Thirteen people will appear on rioting charges at Laganside
Magistrates Court today.

The violence - which broke out in the wake of Saturday
afternoon's Whiterock Orange march - saw gunmen open fire
on police and soldiers, a blast bomb attack, and live
ammunition and baton rounds fired back. Fifty police
officers, at least one suspected gunman and several
civilians were hurt. Several buildings were also burned.

Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde blamed the Orange Order and
the two main loyalist paramilitary groups for the unrest,
which also caused widespread damage in loyalist areas of
Belfast and other towns.

Asked if the UDA and UVF had broken their ceasefires, he
said: "There was no ceasefire ongoing yesterday."

Chief Constables, including Sir Hugh, have previously said
ceasefire breaches were a matter to be defined by
politicians.

Those instances, however, have not included direct attempts
to kill the security forces.

Mr Hain has faced repeated calls to declare a breach in the
UVF ceasefire, but he repeated today that he has not yet
reached a decision.

He said today that he doubted that declaring an end to the
ceasefire "would have made the slightest difference" to the
UVF members who took part.

He described the rioting as a "hideous throwback to the
past" and said that Government needs "to understand the
root causes of the frustration in unionist and loyalist
communities".

Belfast's most senior detective, Chief Superintendent Phil
Wright, will head up the police investigative team which
will today begin the massive logistical job of sifting
through hundreds of hours of CCTV footage.

Local DCU officers will also be investigating a number of
alleged breaches of the Parades Commission determination
following Saturday's contentious Whiterock parade.

Police sources today said they were hopeful that the worst
of the violence had passed but stressed substantial police
and army resources are on standby in case violence flares
again.

Clean-up operations were underway in many parts of Northern
Ireland after a second night of rioting, described by
police as among the worst disturbances in the UK in recent
years.

Loyalists again opened fire on police and soldiers who
responded by discharging plastic baton rounds and live
ammunition. Approximately 500 plastic bullets have now been
fired since the violence began.

Police came under blast, bomb and paint bomb attack at a
number of locations in Belfast, Co Antrim and Co Down last
night.

All main roads were reopened by this morning but motorists
were being advised to leave additional time for their
journeys.

Meanwhile Belfast's most senior Orangeman, County Grand
Master Dawson Bailie, rejected blame for the rioting.

Sir Hugh said the Order must bear responsibility.

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http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=1927772005

Hain To Rule On Loyalist Ceasefires

A Government verdict on the ceasefire status of loyalist
paramilitary organisations who plotted ferocious rioting on
the streets of Northern Ireland will be given within days,
Secretary of State Peter Hain has said.

After being briefed by Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde on the
violence that raged across Belfast and surrounding towns
for two nights, leaving at least 50 police officers
injured, Mr Hain confirmed he was set to announce his
course of action.

He has been under intense pressure to specify the Ulster
Volunteer Force for carrying out a gangland killing spree
against rival loyalists. And now that faction and the
Ulster Defence Association have both been blamed for the
weekend mayhem.

Mr Hain, who studied CCTV footage of gunmen opening fire on
police and soldiers, and petrol bombers attacking security
lines in Belfast, Co Antrim and Co Down, said he was
horrified by what he had viewed.

He declared: "The evidence I have seen this morning is
absolutely clear-cut. If it wasn't clear-cut before, it's
absolutely categorical now. As a result, I'm now going
through, and indeed have been over the past week, a process
in which I will be making an announcement in the next few
days."

Mr Hain refused to say if that would involve specifying, or
declaring the ceasefires of both organisations in tatters,
but he added that detailed legal issues were being
examined. "I need to do this in a proper way," he insisted.

Mr Hain added that the situation had now reached a defining
stage for political representatives and all others caught
up in the violence.

He said: "This is a moment of choice for everybody, for
politicians and for people right the way down through every
part of the community.

"Whose side are you on? Are you on the side of law and
order, applied fairly and equally to every citizen?

"Or are you against law and order, siding with those firing
bullets at the police, throwing petrol bombs and blast
bombs at police and attacking them?"

© Copyright Press Association Ltd 2005, All Rights
Reserved.

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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=661253

Blaze Rips Through Bank And DUP Advice Centre

By David Gordon
dgordon@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
12 September 2005

A BANK and a DUP advice centre were among the buildings
destroyed by fire in an overnight orgy of violence in
Newtownabbey.

The gutted Northern Bank premises are located at Cloughfern
Corner, at the junction of the O'Neill Road and the Doagh
Road.

Four other premises in the area, including the DUP office,
were also destroyed.

The advice centre is jointly used by the party's East
Antrim and North Belfast MPs, Sammy Wilson and Nigel Dodds.

A DUP source today said that he did not think the office
had been targeted deliberately.

"It's three doors down from where the fire was started," he
added.

"However, I would think that those who were involved
couldn't have cared less if a DUP office was destroyed."

An adjacent office used by the Probation Service of
Northern Ireland was also badly damaged, along with a video
shop and a fast food outlet.

The Cloughfern Corner and O'Neill Road areas previously
witnessed serious rioting and damage during Drumcree-
related disturbances.

In nearby Glengormley, a car sales showroom was the target
of a petrol bomb attack last night.

Three petrol bombs were thrown, destroying three cars and a
temporary building.

Meanwhile, in East Belfast fire crews were called out to
deal with a blaze at a shop on the Albertbridge Road.

A number of people had to be moved from their homes.

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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=661251

Bangor Rioters Rob And Burn Bus

By Lisa Smyth
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
12 September 2005

RIOTING thugs who hijacked a Bangor bus and robbed each
passenger in turn were branded the "lowest of the low"
today.

Two men boarded the bus at about 9.30pm yesterday and
forced the driver to go off the route before robbing the
personal belongings of the passengers and ordering them off
the vehicle at St Andrew's Church about 15 minutes later.

The bus was then driven to Green Road in Conlig by the men
before they set it alight blocking the road.

The incident, today branded "the lowest of the low" by DUP
leader Ian Paisley, signalled the beginning of a night of
violence in the town in which police officers came under
attack at various locations.

Petrol bombs were thrown at officers attending the scene of
the hijacked bus in Conlig and petrol bombs were thrown in
the Whitehill area of the town.

More petrol bombs were thrown in the Newtownards Road area
and the driver of a Corsa car was forced from the vehicle
on the Clandeboye Road.

Police discovered 25 petrol bombs in the Clandeboye Road.

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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=661263

Stricken City Smoulders As Life Goes On For Most

Deborah McAleese reports on a weekend of violence on the
streets of Belfast

By Deborah McAleese
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
12 September 2005

THICK black smoke shrouded the Belfast skyline and the
stench of burning tyres from hijacked cars and lorries hung
heavily in the air.

As the police helicopter hovered overhead large crowds of
masked youths stood menacingly on street corners armed with
petrol bombs, bricks and bottles for a weekend of fierce
rioting.

Crowds of residents sat outside their homes to watch as
cars and lorries were hijacked and torched and petrol bombs
and bricks hurled at police and army.

The loyalist ringleaders stood a short distance away
sending instructions to the youths via text messages.

Roads were blocked off all over Belfast in a bid by
loyalists to bring the city under siege.

Along one of the worst hit areas, the Shore Road, gangs of
youths hijacked several cars as motorists tried to get onto
or off the motorway at the slip road opposite Mount Vernon.

As police Land Rovers tried to move in to disperse the
crowds and move the burning vehicles off the roads they
came under sustained attack from petrol bombers.

Later in the evening rioters turned their attentions to the
enclosed Fortwilliam Grange apartments where they petrol
bombed properties and threw bricks through windows and at
cars.

Just yards away on the Antrim Road people carried on with
life as normal.

This was a scene repeated throughout the city.

Despite fierce street violence the city remained vibrant
over the weekend with people refusing to give in to
loyalist intimidation.

However, taxi drivers were reluctant to enter many parts of
the city after dark and crowds of late night revellers were
stranded in the city centre on Saturday night.

As smoke still smouldered from many of the hijacked
vehicles yesterday the rioters prepared themselves for
another day of violence, blocking off several roads as
early as 9am.

Sporadic rioting broke out throughout the day, gradually
turning nastier throughout the evening when black smoke
clouds once again filled the air across the city.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4236726.stm

Sick Pensioner 'Stranded By Riot'

Rioting in Belfast meant ambulance crews were unable to
reach a 93-year-old woman who had fallen at her home, the
Ambulance Service has said.

Ambulance Service spokesman Billy Newton said the weekend
had seen two of its busiest nights of the year.

Transport company Translink said damage estimated at more
than £500,000 was caused to its vehicles during the rioting
on Saturday and Sunday.

Spokesman Ciaran Rogan said the cost would not be covered
by insurance.

He said the company had difficulty getting its fleet of
buses out on the roads on Monday morning.

"One bus costs £130,000 to replace - we lost two, with a
third one badly damaged.

"Replacing the (bulletproof) windscreens costs £1,000
apiece."

Stations closed

Two ambulance stations in Whiteabbey and Templemore Avenue
had to be closed for safety reasons.

Mr Newton said they tried their best to respond to all
call-outs but were prevented from reaching three
emergencies in Belfast.

One of these was for an elderly woman who had fallen "and
was very confused".

"It just was not a safe area for our crews to go into, so
we had to give her medical advice on the phone and ask her
family who were with her to phone her GP," he said.

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2005/09/12 07:30:16 GMT
© BBC MMV

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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=661262

Police Fire 500 Baton Rounds To Restore Calm

Crime Correspondent Jonathan McCambridge examines the
police response to two nights of terror in Northern Ireland

By Jonathan McCambridge, Crime Correspondent
jmccambridge@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
12 September 2005

THIS weekend may come to be viewed as the time when police
removed the kid gloves when dealing with mob rule on our
streets.

Following a summer of mounting concerns over what have been
viewed as soft police tactics in the face of increasingly
serious public order situations, the security forces found
themselves the target on Saturday and Sunday of some of the
worst rioting Northern Ireland has ever seen.

Senior officers were surprised by the level of the violence
targeted against them.

When the violence did explode on Saturday police and Army
were left with little option but to respond to the direct
attack. Containment was not an option in the face of an
orgy of violence.

Over 50 live rounds were fired at police on Saturday with
more on Sunday. Over 50 officers have been hurt - coming
after 100 officers were injured in Ardyone in July and
another 40 on the Crumlin Road last month.

Yesterday police put on display two Land Rovers which had
been riddled with live bullets, emphasising the Chief
Constable's claims that there were attempts to murder his
officers.

Both the Army and police responded with live ammunition in
instances where they felt they were in fear of their lives.
These episodes will be investigated by the Police
Ombudsman.

Following three years in which plastic baton rounds were
never used by police, they are becoming a regular feature
of this summer. Approximately 500 were fired by police and
the Army over the weekend, dwarfing the 21 which were
discharged in the Ardoyne in July.

The public perception is police have been unwilling to use
the new sponge-tipped baton rounds, aware of the
controversial history of plastic bullets. Now officers only
get permission to discharge them when they feel there is a
real and serious threat to life.

Police have been left exasperated all summer by allegations
of both inaction and heavy-handedness in the face of
continuing public order situations.

Perhaps for this reason the chief constable very quickly
made it clear he believed the Orange Order must carry the
responsibility for the riots.

He watched the weekend's events unfold on 12 CCTV control
screens at police headquarters with spotter planes catching
images of loyalist paramilitaries opening fire on police.

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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=661236

How Trouble Unfolded

As Ulster reels from the worst rioting in the province in
years, Clare Weir and Deborah McAleese trace a weekend
marred by violence

By Clare Weir and Deborah McAleese
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
12 September 2005
----

Saturday

Marchers on the Whiterock Parade are prevented by police
from going through the security gates at Workman Avenue
onto the Springfield Road, being told to pass through the
former Mackies factory site.

Marchers pound the locked gates at Workman Avenue and a
police Land Rover is reversed against them to keep them
closed. Trouble ensues between marchers and nationalist
protestors. Gun and blast bomb attacks are reported at the
North Circular Road.

3pm Disturbances spread to the Upper Crumlin Road/Hesketh
Road junction of north Belfast, with security forces pelted
by more petrol bombs and stones. A vehicle was hijacked and
set on fire at police lines. Baton rounds and a water
cannon was deployed. Police report that the cannon was
damaged during the gunfire.

5pm Cars are reported on fire on the Ardoyne Road, while a
burning bus blocks off North Queen Street, close to the
city centre.

Disturbances occur at the Short Strand/Albertbridge Road
peaceline in east Belfast where 200 youths throw petrol
bombs and missiles at police.

Nationalist residents attack the loyalist protestors
blocking the Albert Bridge and police intervene to keep the
two sides apart. Shots are fired.

Further road blocks took place at Ligoniel and the Crumlin
Road in north Belfast, and in the city centre at
Shaftesbury Square.

10.30pm Motorists are advised by police to stay away from
the Doagh Road, Ballyclare Square, Monkstown, Rathcoole,
the Shore Road and Glengormley after fears of hijackings.

Sixteen petrol bombs are discovered by police at Cloughfern
in Newtownabbey and buildings are set on fire at the
Monkstown Road in Jordanstown and the Doagh Road.

Pipe bombs and fireworks are thrown at police at Isadore
Avenue in west Belfast.
----

Sunday

12am Cars are hijacked in Carrickfergus and Larne and
petrol bombs are thrown at police at Strand Walk in east
Belfast and in Newtownabbey.

Arrests are made at Albertbridge Road in east Belfast and
baton rounds are fired by police.

Cars are hijacked on the Shore Road and part of the M2 is
closed to traffic. Police make arrests for disorderly
behaviour in Newtownabbey.

1am Violence spreads to Antrim as petrol bombs are thrown
at police.

Motorists are urged to stay indoors as more cars are
hijacked in north Belfast.

Arrests are made on the Shankill Road for public order
offences.

Petrol bombs are thrown at police at Highfield Drive and
Gunnell Hill in north Belfast.

2.25am Trouble moves to Co Antrim as crowds block the
Antrim and Larne Roads in Ballymena and vehicles are set
alight. A mob also gathers at Ballee and petrol bombs are
thrown. Three arrests are made.

Police are called to the village of Ahoghill as vehicles
are set on fire and houses damaged by a crowd of youths who
threw fireworks and missiles at officers. A petrol bomb is
reported thrown in Ballyclare.

4.30am Ballymena and the West Circular Road are reported
calm.

7.45am Police warn that a crowd of youths has erected a
barrier to block the road at the junction of the
Albertbridge Road and Templemore Avenue in east Belfast.

9am The West Circular Road is closed once more following
reports of suspect packages. Three viable devices are taken
away for examination.

1pm A bus is set on fire on the Steeple Road in Antrim. In
Belfast, hijackings take place at the Shore Road and Doagh
Road, and a crowd of youths attempt to block the Albert
Bridge.

5pm Youths again block the Albertbridge Road and light
stoning is reported. Police advise motorists to avoid the
area.

6pm Trouble begins to spread to Glengormley with police
advising motorists to avoid the Ballyclare Road at
Ballyearl Drive and Queen's Park as the road is blocked.

7.25pm Police confirm they have charged two people in
connection with Saturday evening's riots. A 48- year-old
man and 16- year-old youth are due to appear before
Laganside Magistrate's Court today charged with riotous
offending and resisting arrest.

******************************************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=661222

Ten Years Of Rising Tension

Whiterock Orange Parade has a volatile history

By Clare Weir
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
12 September 2005

TENSIONS surrounding the flashpoint Whiterock parade have
been increasing for almost a decade.

Violence was widely predicted after the Parades Commission
re-routed the Orange Order feeder parade by just 100
metres, keeping the marchers off part of the mainly
nationalist Springfield Road.

The march was to have taken place in June, but the order
postponed it when the body would not allow members to walk
their preferred route.

Rather than walking through the security gates at the
interface area of Workman Avenue, the commission ruled that
the parade should instead make the short journey through
the former Mackies factory site.

In the run-up to Saturday's trouble, loyalists had
protested the decision by blocking a number of roads in
Belfast.

Crunch meetings were also held between top PSNI members and
Orange and unionist leaders when the commission refused to
review its decision.

In recent years it has been uncommon for the parade to pass
without event.

There was little surprise when violence broke out on
Saturday, with DUP leader Ian Paisley suggesting that the
situation could become volatile.

Indeed after a meeting to discuss the parade last week, the
veteran politician said the issue "could be the spark which
kindles a fire that there would be no putting out".

In 2000, the scene turned ugly as a UDA colour party joined
the parade, infuriating nationalist protestors.

Two years later, Protestant residents living along Workman
Avenue were subject to a letter campaign telling them their
homes would be attacked if the parade was allowed to pass
through nationalist areas.

In 2004, police officers were attacked by nationalist
youths after the parade was allowed to pass through the
Springfield Road.

A determination earlier in the year had blocked the Orange
Order parade from walking along parts of the area.

However, the Commission decided to overturn its own ban
because it was satisfied that a genuine dialogue had been
established between the marchers and residents.

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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=661240

Prime Ministers Meet In Wake Of City Rioting

Blair and Ahern to hold talks at world summit

By Brian Walker, London Walker
brian.walker@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
12 September 2005

PRIME Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will
meet this week to discuss the volatile state of loyalist
areas, in light of the violence at the weekend and earlier
in the summer.

The two Prime Ministers will hold talks in New York, on the
margins of the world summit, and will also discuss IRA
decommissioning.

In spite of persistent media reports of IRA moves prior to
decommissioning, no firm news has been received about them
at government level, sources insist.

Police have accused the UDA and UVF of orchestrating a
weekend of "attempted murder", evidenced by the discovery
of a bomb factory and up to 100 rounds of automatic gunfire
fired at the police.

While security sources are "deeply concerned" at the worst
street violence for years, they discount as exaggerated
assessments that it compares with the chaos that engulfed
the province in the early years of the troubles.

The issue of "specification" or withdrawing recognition of
the UVF ceasefire is unlikely to be decided at today's
meeting between the Secretary of State Peter Hain and the
Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde.

The PSNI regard specification as a mainly political matter
about sending signals to both sides of the community.

Prosecutions for a breach of a ceasefire would be unlikely
to succeed, in their view.

However, under great the pressure for action from the SDLP
in particular, a decision to specify the UVF is likely to
wait for next month's full report on all paramilitary
action by the International Monitoring Commission.

"The immediate emphasis is on ending the violence," said
sources.

The police privately admit that "a genuine attempt at
dialogue" to reach agreement about the route of the
Whiterock parade was made at the parades forum but a "huge
gap in understanding" was evident between the Orange Order
and the Springfield residents.

"The weekend violence was a complete disaster for
loyalists," said a senior security source.

"Republicans didn't have to do a thing. The bottom line is
that this community feels completely disenfranchised.

"Nobody gives a damn about them and the politicians need to
get engaged with them, pretty damn quick."

The PSNI enter a new week with the situation still "tense
but containable", as loyalist groups take stock.

******************************************

http://www.online.ie/news/viewer.adp?article=3274948

Hain And Orde To Discuss Loyalist Violence In Belfast

online.ie
2005-09-12 11:30:01+01

Northern Secretary Peter Hain is due to meet PSNI chief
constable Hugh Orde today to discuss the loyalist riots in
Belfast at the weekend.

More than 50 PSNI officers were injured as loyalist gangs
went on the rampage for two nights throughout Belfast and
surrounding areas.

Petrol bombs, home-made grenades and live ammunition were
all fired at police during the disturbances, which followed
a contentious Orange Order parade on Saturday.

The PSNI has begun examining hours of videotape to try to
identify those behind the clashes.

Mr Orde has already accused loyalist paramilitaries of
orchestrating the violence and has severely criticised the
Orange Order, some of whose members were heavily involved.

On the political front, Sinn Féin has accused unionist
leaders of provoking and encouraging the violence and of
making no attempt to rein in the violence once it had
broken out.

DUP leader Ian Paisley, however, has denied that his
warnings about violence following the re-routing of the
contentious parade were inflammatory.

UUP leader Reg Empey has also stated that, while the riots
were unjustified, the British government had a duty to
examine loyalist grievances.

******************************************

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4236208.stm

Orangemen 'Joined Police Attacks'

Orangemen removed their collarettes and attacked police
during rioting in Belfast, Peter Hain has said.

The NI Secretary was speaking as cleaning up continued
after a weekend of violence which racked the city.

Speaking after a briefing from Chief Constable Hugh Orde he
said he had been shown footage of trouble at a re-routed
parade which sparked off the rioting.

Sir Hugh has offered to give unionist politicians and
Orange Order leaders a detailed briefing on the trouble.

Trouble broke out after a disputed Protestant Orange Order
parade in the Whiterock area of west Belfast.

At the weekend, Sir Hugh said the Order bore substantial
responsibility for the rioting and attacks on his officers.

The Orange Order described his remarks as "inflammatory",
but Sir Hugh rejected this.

Mr Hain said the violence was tearing communities apart and
has to stop.

"I think if leaders of the Orange Order actually saw the
video I saw this morning of Orangemen taking off their
collarettes and throwing rocks at the police, I think the
leaders of the Orange Order would be as horrified as I
was," he said.

Mr Hain said that all "responsible community and political
leaders must come foursquare behind the forces of law and
order".
----

WEEKEND OF RIOTS

1,000 police deployed
1,000 soldiers deployed
50 police injured
Petrol bombs thrown
Blast bombs thrown
Pipe bombs thrown
Shots fired at police
Seven firearms recovered
Up to 500 plastic bullets fired
Bomb factory found
Water cannon deployed
Cars and buses hijacked
One man shot by Army
Man critical after bomb blast
----

Mr Hain also confirmed that he will be making an
announcement in the coming days regarding the status of the
Ulster Volunteer Force ceasefire.

At least 18 police officers were hurt in the second night
of rioting in Belfast and counties Antrim and Down,
including Newtownabbey, Banbridge, Glengormley and Bangor.

At one point a mob of about 700 in east Belfast hurled
petrol bombs and opened fire on the security forces.

Vehicles were hijacked and burned across the city in the
worst rioting for years.

Police put on show a Land Rover with bullets embedded in
the side following weekend attacks by loyalist gunmen.

They also said 13 people are expected to appear in Belfast
Magistrates Court on charges related to the weekend
rioting.

Roads Service and local council staff have been clearing
roads of debris left by the rioting.

One man was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound to his
arm after an incident when soldiers fired live ammunition
in the Broadway area. He has since been arrested for
attempted murder.

In Belfast a 22-month-old infant sustained a fractured
skull when rioters stoned the car the toddler was in in the
Fortwilliam area.

Two men hijacked a bus in Bangor, County Down, robbed the
passengers then ordered them off the bus before setting it
alight on a housing estate.

A number of other cars were then hijacked and used to block
roads at Conlig between Bangor and Newtownards.

In Bangor, a woman in her 70s was injured when she was
attacked by a mob throwing stones at her car on Newtownards
Road, just 500 metres from her home.

Officers in east Belfast recovered a digger abandoned by
rioters who drove it along a road knocking down street
lights and causing extensive damage.

Bank burned

An automatic cash machine was also believed to have been
removed from nearby premises by the driver of the digger.

In north Belfast, automatic gunfire was aimed at Tennent
Street police station. There were no reported injuries.

In Newtownabbey just north of Belfast, a bank, video shop,
fast food outlet and offices occupied by the Probation
Board and DUP were burnt out at the Cloughfern Corner on
the Doagh Road.

At nearby Fernagh Avenue, a pregnant woman and a man were
dragged from their car by four men during an attempted
hijacking.
----

HAVE YOUR SAY

Peace requires a complete end to these marches both by
Loyalist and Republicans

John, Basildon, Essex

The fresh wave of violence broke out after police raided
homes in search of the perpetrators of Saturday's riots.

The violence began when a controversial Orange Order march
was re-routed away from a mainly Catholic area.

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2005/09/12 11:55:29 GMT
© BBC MMV

******************************************

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4235984.stm

Unionist Leaders 'Shirked Blame'

Many unionist leaders have "abdicated responsibility" for
weekend violence, President George Bush's special envoy to
Northern Ireland has said.

Mitchell Reiss said leadership was needed but "in the last
few days we haven't seen very much of it".

DUP leader Ian Paisley denied prompting riots by saying the
parade re-routing "could be the spark which kindles a fire
there would be no putting out".

Mr Paisley condemned the violence but said his prediction
had come true.

"I was telling the truth, I said I was very very worried,"
he said on Monday.

"At that time I was in the midst of trying to get a way
whereby this would not happen. And it has happened - my
words have been proved to be right."

In a BBC interview, Mr Reiss said there was "absolutely no
excuse" for the trouble, which was sparked by the re-
routing of a Protestant Orange Order march.

"I think all of us are pretty disappointed with the
abdication of responsibility by many unionist political
leaders," he said.

"No political party, and certainly no responsible political
leadership, deserves to serve in a government unless it
cooperates and supports fully and unconditionally the
police, and calls on its supporters to do so.

"It's true for unionism, it's true for all political
parties, and I think that this was not the finest moment
for politics in Northern Ireland over the weekend."

The US Envoy said problems needed to be tackled by
sustained hard work in communities.

"What you really need is leadership, and unfortunately in
the last few days, we haven't seen very much of it," he
said.

However, he singled out Ulster Unionist Belfast councillor
Fred Cobain for praise for the work he had done over the
weekend and in the past weeks.

"When people do stand up and take a courageous stand and
exert leadership, they deserve to be recognised," he said.

Mr Reiss is in Belfast for a series of meetings with
political leaders.

He has toured the area where riots occurred in Belfast over
the weekend and met with policing representatives.

The envoy was also due to meet the family of murdered
Belfast man Robert McCartney, and representatives of the
Families of the Disappeared.

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2005/09/12 10:56:19 GMT
© BBC MMV

******************************************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=661225

Orde Blames Orangemen For Violence

By Clare Weir
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
12 September 2005

SIR Hugh Orde has blamed the Orange Order for some of the
most dangerous riots ever to take place in the UK.

The Chief Constable said that the Whiterock parade on
Saturday became "illegal" on many levels and was the
"catalyst" for the violent scenes on the streets of Belfast
and several towns in County Antrim.

He also said that he had seen footage of Orangemen
attacking police with ceremonial artefacts.

"The catalyst for this violence was the march and the
Orange Order have to take responsibility," he said.

"On July 12 I laid the blame on republican rioters and I
actually congratulated the Orange Order on its restraint. I
am doing no more, no less on this occasion."

The Chief Constable paid tribute to some political
representatives for preventing the initial trouble from
escalating.

"I did not call people to come out onto the streets," he
said.

"Our job was to police the determination of the Parades
Commission and the determination was breached, root and
branch.

"Supporters tried to follow the bandsmen through and, were
it not for the actions of Nigel Dodds and Fred Cobain, the
situation could have been much worse.

Yesterday, Grand Master of the Orange Order Robert Saulters
said that he had not been aware of any attacks on police
from Orangemen.

However, Sir Hugh said that, in coming days, video footage
would be released showing men in Orange sashes attacking
his officers.

"I have pictures of men in sashes attacking police with
ceremonial sabres and pikes, and these pictures will be
released," he said.

"I also saw members of the Orange Order attacking officers,
standing next to men wearing masks, organising violence."

Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland said that he
was contacted by a senior organising member of the Orange
march who said that the organisation had "lost control" of
the situation.

He described the scene in two Land Rovers in the Highfield
area as surveillance cameras homed in on armed men.

"When the gunmen were observed we had to take "hard cover"
in Land Rovers, while still coming under attack from blast
bombs," he said.

"During this time, Orangemen were still attempting to
travel past us as we took cover, down an illegal route."

******************************************

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=155612284&p=y556yz99x

Hain Defends Orde's Criticism Of Orange Order Rioters

12/09/2005 - 12:21:36

Northern Secretary Peter Hain has defended PSNI chief
constable Hugh Orde's criticism of the Orange Order in the
wake of this weekend's loyalist riots in Belfast.

Mr Orde was severely critical of the order yesterday,
accusing it of sharing the blame for the violence.

Video footage clearly showed Orangemen engaged in throwing
missiles at the police following a contentious paradae that
was banned from the nationalist Springfield Road.

Orange Order Grand Master Robert Saulters accused the PSNI
chief constable of engaging in propaganda, but Mr Hain
rejected this accusation today.

Speaking ahead of talks with Mr Orde at Stormont Castle, he
said he had seen footage of Orangemen taking off their
sashes and throwing rocks at the police.

The Northern Secretary said the loyalist rampage over the
weekend was "horrifying" and the PSNI had offered to show
the footage to any unionist leader who doubted the
seriousness of the violence.

******************************************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=661221

Order's Shock At Criticism

By Clare Weir
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
12 September 2005

ORANGE Order officials last night said they were
"staggered" by the stinging criticism of the Chief
Constable after the violence which followed the Whiterock
parade.

The Order said it would be carrying out its own
investigation into weekend rioting and would not be
engaging in "tit-for-tat arguments in the media".

A spokeswoman said: "That is not the way to evaluate the
situation. We are collecting evidence and will provide our
own evaluation at an appropriate time."

Meanwhile an Orangeman and Policing Board member has said
"everyone is to blame" for the weekend disturbances which
wreaked havoc and destruction in Belfast.

North Belfast UUP councillor Fred Cobain, who was singled
out for praise by Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde for helping
to contain the violence, said that he "could not refute"
claims that Orangemen attacked police officers.

Mr Orde said the Order should take responsibility for the
trouble and described the march as a "catalyst" for the
violence.

Speaking after Mr Orde's comments, Mr Cobain said that
there is a "long way to go" before normality can be
returned to the streets of the city.

"I cannot refute what was said because I did not see it
happen," he said.

"I listened to Mr Orde's comments but as far as I see it,
Saturday was not all one-way traffic.

"He has concentrated on the professionalism of his
officers. Some of them that I saw were not acting very
professionally.

"We are all to blame for what happened - I am to blame, the
police are to blame, the Orange Order, the paramilitaries,
even civil society.

"The violence was the result of the frustrations felt by a
small working class Protestant community who feel that the
police treat republican rioters a lot more leniently and
see a Secretary of State who lets a mass murderer out of
prison for political reasons.

"The PSNI does not seem to be in tune with this community
and that worries me.

"We have a long road to go down before this is sorted out."

******************************************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=661219

Unionists Play Blame Game With Commission

By Deborah McAleese
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
12 September 2005

UNIONISTS were last night blaming the Parades Commission,
the PSNI and the Government for the loyalist rioting across
Northern Ireland at the weekend.

Two days of street violence erupted after the Orange Order
encouraged supporters to take to the streets to protest
against the Parades Commission's decision to re-route the
Whiterock parade.

DUP leader Ian Paisley said Orangemen have been treated
"shamefully" by the Parades Commission.

He said: "The Parades Commission are to blame for the mess
that has been created. The commission treated elected
representatives with contempt by its refusal to even call
us to put our case."

Party colleague Nigel Dodds accused the Parades Commission,
government ministers, and the Chief Constable of "passing
the buck" to each other all week instead of addressing the
issue.

"Along with colleagues and other representatives I have
worked to avert violence and to keep open the prospect of
future dialogue. Every effort was made to bring about a
peaceful and orderly solution to an increasingly difficult
situation. Our efforts met with no response," he said.

Describing the violence as a "throwback to the 1970s",
Ulster Unionist party leader Sir Reg Empey said the finger
of blame must also be pointed at Orange Order leaders for
bringing people onto the streets without adequate means of
stewarding them, and loyalist paramilitaries for starting
the riots.

He said the violence was not solely related to the
Whiterock Parade but was a build-up of resentment within
the unionist community that republicans are seen to
influence government by threatening force and getting
rewarded for their efforts.

"Those of us who attempted to defuse the situation
surrounding the Whiterock parade got little or no
encouragement or support in attempting to amend the Parades
Commission's determination. The inconsistent actions and
decisions of that discredited body demand a radical review
of its remit," he added.

******************************************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=661218

Loyalists 'Provoking Youths'

By Deborah McAleese
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
12 September 2005

LOYALIST paramilitaries attempted to provoke nationalist
youths into violent clashes at interface areas, it was
claimed last night.

And amid concern that the weekend's violence has weakened
the already shaky peace process, pressure was mounting on
the Orange Order to come clean about its involvement in
stirring up tensions.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams warned nationalists and
republicans to remain calm and not get drawn in to any
conflict.

He said: "There is a concerted attempt under way to draw
young nationalists and republicans into conflict at
interface areas across Belfast.

"I want to appeal to people to remain calm in the face of
the offensive rhetoric of unionist politicians and the
actions of unionist paramilitaries."

Deputy leader of the SDLP Alasdair McDonnell said the
violence on the streets of Belfast was "totally insane" and
"seriously damaging" to the political process.

He said: "The Orange Order continues to claim to be against
terrorism yet they don't hesitate to associate with
murderous paramilitaries when and where it suits them.

"The international community are appalled by what has
happened."

Party colleague Alex Attwood said: "The dangerous language
of the DUP leader, the pan-unionism of the UUP and DUP
meeting the Secretary of State and Chief Constable and
images of the Orange Order standing next to people in
balaclavas, has fuelled tensions and done nothing to
moderate conduct.

"Those who contributed to this situation must undo it."

The PSNI and local communities have been asked by SDLP
councillor Tim Attwood to be vigilant.

******************************************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=661260

Church Leaders Appeal For End To Trouble

By Alf McCreary, Religion Correspondent
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
12 September 2005

THE Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop Robin Eames has
called for calm, following the weekend violence.

He said that he shared "the deep concern of many at the
turmoil erupting within the Protestant and loyalist
community".

"Questions of great importance are being raised, but there
is no possible excuse for the attacks on the police, who
once again have found themselves in a virtually impossible
situation.

"The efforts of clergy and others on the ground to defuse
the tensions must be recognised and I appeal for calm
throughout our community at this time."

And the Presbyterian Moderator the Rt. Reverend Dr. Harry
Uprichard has also condemned the weekend violence.

He said was appalled and shocked by its ferocity. Part of
this took place in Ahoghill where Dr Uprichard is a
minister.

He said, in a statement yesterday, that "anyone with
influence should use it to diffuse tension and do all they
can to return calm to our communities".

Prior to the Whiterock Parade, the Moderator had expressed
his disappointment that dialogue had been unsuccessful.

He underlined, however, that the Presbyterian General
Assembly had recognised that in the absence of local
agreement.

"The Parades Commission have no alternative but to issue a
lawful determination by which those who parade and those
who protest must abide," he said.

Earlier last week Dr Uprichard had been criticised by a
Ballymena priest Fr John Burns for an allegedly
insufficient response on the ground following sectarian
attacks in the Ballymena area.

During the week he met Catholic clergy and visited schools
which had been damaged and also met families whose homes
had been subjected to attacks.

******************************************

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/talking_point/4236886.stm

Can Loyalist Violence Be Stopped?

At least 18 police officers have been hurt in a second
night of loyalist rioting in Belfast and counties Antrim
and Down.

At one point a mob of about 700 people in east Belfast
opened fire on security forces, while vehicles were
hijacked and burnt out across the city.

The trouble followed riots on Saturday which were sparked
by the re-routing of an Orange Order march.

What can be done to end the violence? Should the
authorities have acted more swiftly to stop the
disturbances? Do you live in the area? Send us your
comments and experiences.

The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we
have received so far:
----

This topic was suggested by A, Belfast With the latest
troubles over the weekend, has Belfast progressed at all?

These marches - by both sides - are nothing more than
childish. They celebrate ancient battles and simply goad
the other side. Anyone in Northern Ireland who wants peace
should say forget the past. We won't march any longer. The
marches achieve nothing except antagonising the "other
side". If there's to be any hope of peace, there has to be
a blurring of the lines so the divide is not so deep.

Mike, UK
----

It seems the only people who see peace in Ireland are the
politicians. Peace requires a complete end to these marches
both by loyalist and republicans. The reasons for the
marches is purely an excuse to continue and install another
generation of hatred in the country.

John, Basildon, Essex
----

I think the thing to do is to ban all marches. Both
communities constantly remind each other of their past
triumphs and injustices many going back over 300 years.
They just antagonise each other. Can you imagine what
England would be like if each year people of Norman
ancestry held events to celebrate their victory over the
Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings ? We would have a
divided society that endured for over 900 years. To the
people of Northern Ireland - move out of the past.

AK, Winchester
----

I fail to see why there are films of rioters throwing
petrol bombs that aren't immediately followed by shots of
the same rioter being arrested. Are our police forces
unable to deploy firearms officers?

Jonathon Evans, Cardiff, UK
----

The violence over the weekend shows how unstable our
country is

Laura Mageean, Co Down
----

I think the violence over the weekend shows how unstable
our country is. Thugs take petrol bombs to the streets
because they don't get what they want. At the end of the
day they are doing nothing but bringing our country back to
the state it was in 40 years ago. Maybe I'm wrong, but
should Catholics not march in their own area and the
Protestants in theirs?

Laura Mageean, Co Down
----

Why is it necessary for an Orange Order march to go through
a predominantly Catholic area? Isn't this inciting
religious hatred? People have to stop living in the past
and look forward to peace and building bridges with other
communities.

John, Glasgow, Scotland
----

What everyone, including the IRA, chooses to forget is that
British troops were first sent to the province to protect
Catholics from loyalist thugs like these. Unfortunately,
this violence clearly has the support of a significant
proportion of the protestant community - the people making
up the 700 strong mob weren't all "loyalist
paramilitaries".

Peter, Nottingham
----

I live on a road where the Orange Order march past my
house. As the marchers passed I was threatened with death
by members of the Orange Order and also was spat in the
face. They then held a protest outside my house for an hour
playing paramilitary songs, taking pictures of me, throwing
bottles at windows of homes in the street. I thought the
Orange Order was a religious organisation but the scenes I
witnessed made me want to move out of Northern Ireland for
good. I am unsure as to where I stand in relation to having
been threatened to have my house burned so I am extremely
stressed by all of this and am in fear of attacks on myself
and my property.

Martin Cummins, Belfast
----

The violence will only stop if the so called loyalists want
it to stop. The IRA have or are decommissioning their
weapons but never has there been any government call for
the loyalist to decommission. The loyalists want the IRA to
agree to their terms, which they doing. But now the
Orangemen must respect the Republican areas.

W P Derbyshire, London UK
----

I was a member of the Orange Order on parade in Belfast on
Saturday, I saw the heavy handed police in action which
lead to rioting which I condemn. I am an ex-policeman and I
have never seen such un-professional policing - the
secretary of state should resign - because he was warned
tensions were high last week by leading unionist
politicians but he did not even think it worth his while to
meet with them. The madness of the decision by the anti-
parades commission to re-route the parade - simply because
of nationalist violence - was wrong and the commission
should be replaced now.

John, Omagh, Co Tyrone
----

After decades of unrest the problem in NI is rooted deeply
- growing up in such an environment is a vicious legacy and
resorting to physical violence has become the norm. It will
take a long time to put right ¿ generations? It will take a
government with long term solutions not with short term
band-aids which seems to be the policy of choice at the
moment.

Keith, Zurich, CH
----

These people are a disgrace to this country and those
organisations which are not speaking out to condemn this
violence are as good as condoning it. Again, the minority
destroy everything for the majority.

Julia, Belfast, Northern Ireland
----

Ban the marches if they can't be civilised. Why do they
insist on marching into nationalist areas, the only reason
I can think of is to intimidate the community. Religious
hatred disguised as tradition, that's all it is. Where's Mr
Paisley now when he should be condemning such a disgrace?

Rod Mc, West of Scotland
----

Disgraceful. Ok, the march should not have been re-routed
but this reaction is absolutely disgraceful. Makes me
ashamed to be British.

J, Britain
----

It is about time that Unionist/Loyalist politicians address
the issues affecting their communities and stop shifting
the blame on Republicans and nationalists

Jim, Belfast
----

I wish the Unionist politicians and the Orange order would
get their act together and stop behaving like spoiled
children. It's time for Northern Ireland to grow up and
move on. It seems to me like the Unionist movements don't
want to work towards a better country and for some bizarre
reason want to keep hatred at the top of the agenda. I'm
embarrassed to have them in the United Kingdom.

Martin, Edinburgh
----

My uncle is Hungarian, he fled during the uprising against
Communist rule in 1956. He has seen for himself the bitter
sectarian divides in parts of Eastern Europe (Yugoslavia
being a prime example) and had this to say: "There will
never be peace, they are bred to hate each other". Sadly
the same argument can be applied to Northern Ireland. While
the politics of hate are used in Northern Ireland, while
children are taught that anyone who differs from them is
inherently wrong, then there will never be peace. We have
to break the cycle of hatred.

Dave Bowling, UK
----

The situation in N. Ireland is following the same lines as
the early to mid sixties. These so called Loyalists will
take on the forces of Law and Order and when they find that
they cannot match them, then they will turn their attention
to vulnerable Catholics - see recent happenings in the
heartland of Dr. Paisley. The DUP, in particular, so devoid
of policies and having no Sinn Fein/IRA bogeymen to attack
have lost whatever control they ever had. Leadership, what
leadership. The road ahead is fraught with difficulty and
will remain so until sectarianism is confronted and
defeated.

Harry Campbell, Florence, Italy
----

The events of the weekend has shown that political
documentation such as the Good Friday Agreement bear little
impact on deep rooted problems

William Phipps, London UK
----

The events of the weekend has shown that political
documentation such as the Good Friday Agreement bear little
impact on deep rooted problems involving matters of
religion. As such, this is a problem with which any peace
initiative will never be able to satisfy both the political
and religious demands of all involved. Therefore the only
action the government are able to take is quell the
violence and protect the civilian interests in terms of
giving fair representation to all manners of belief in the
area.

William Phipps, London UK
----

Do you really think that this violence was caused by the
re-routing of a march? The people involved in the violence
are nothing but common criminals. This was not spontaneous
attack out of grief but a pre-determined attack on security
forces by people with nothing better to do on a Sunday
evening.

Gavin, London
----

Loyalism, unionism is a defunct ideal - the loyalist
population are caught in a time warp and have failed to
move with the times. The Empire is gone, colonialism is
dead - though the news has not yet arrived in Northern
Ireland.

Richard Elgin, Bristol
----

Loyalists - who on earth are the 'loyal' to. They can hear
from me, a UK citizen and loyal to my country, that I
disown them.

Graham, Cobham
----

The police need to crackdown. The police know who they are
yet are too afraid to intervene. Alongside the police
taking action the government must signal a change and
integrate ALL schools getting rid of all religious based
schools. Plus all outward signs such as painted banners on
houses etc should whitewashed. There needs to be culture
change to rid us of these sad little bigots.

Ian, Brechin, Scotland
----

Of course it can be stopped. If you attack the army with a
lethal weapon - and a petrol bomb is a lethal weapon - you
should expect to be answered with lethal force. Lets see
how eager they are for a fight if they know a police or
army marksman is going to take them out the minute they
light their petrol bomb.

Iain, Cambridge, UK (ex-Belfast)
----

As well as an end to IRA operations, we need an end to
loyalist terrorism and decommissioning of their weapons. A
clear statement distancing the Unionist parties from
terrorism would be helpful in isolating these people within
their own communities

JM, Scotland
----

Well we can start by not referring to them as Loyalists,
what are they loyal to? It is clear the thugs are losing
their power and they won't go quietly.

Gerry, Scotland
----

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2005/09/12 10:43:36 GMT
© BBC MMV

******************************************

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4236724.stm

'Sectarian Attack' On Two Houses

Two homes have been attacked in Londonderry in what police
are describing as a sectarian attack.

The houses, belonging to Protestants, were attacked in
Bonds' Street, in the Waterside area, causing scorch damage
to the front of one.

Its owner said she has lived there for 40 years but now
wants to leave.

Police said two hours of trouble followed the attack.
Inspector John Kane said police officers came under attack
from nationalists in Gobnascale.

Story from BBC NEWS:

Published: 2005/09/12 07:25:14 GMT

© BBC MMV

******************************************

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=661210

US Develops Strategy For First Use Of Nuclear Weapons
Against WMD

By Rupert Cornwell
12 September 2005

The Pentagon has drawn up a new strategy, built on the 2002
"Bush doctrine" of pre-emptive military strikes, that would
allow the United States to make first use of nuclear
weapons to thwart an attack using weapons of mass
destruction against the country.

Under the scheme, developed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff
but yet to be ratified by Donald Rumsfeld, the Defence
Secretary, commanders would be able to request permission
from the President to use nuclear weapons in a variety of
scenarios. According to The Washington Post, one scenario
is of an enemy that is using, or "is about to use", WMD
against US military forces or the civilian population.
Another is where nuclear weapons could be used against
biological weapons that an enemy was close to using, and
which could only be safely destroyed by nuclear weapons and
their after-effects.

In practice, the strategy would update existing guidelines,
drawn up in 1995 under the Clinton administration. It would
fit in with plans mooted by the Pentagon to develop a new
generation of nuclear weapons, specifically designed to
attack enemy bunkers holding WMD, which could be buried
deep underground.

Congress has thus far declined to provide funds for a study
into the so-called "Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator", not
least because of criticism that such a move would make a
mockery of US-led efforts to prevent nuclear-weapons
proliferation, and make it more, rather than less likely,
that such weapons would be used.

The Pentagon document argues that proliferation has already
made it more likely that nuclear weapons could be used. It
claims that some 30 nations have WMD programmes - not to
mention terrorists, or "non-state actors", some of them
acting with state sponsorship.

******************************************

http://www.utvinternet.com/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=64891&pt=n

Tidy Town Winners Announced

The town of Ennis in County Clare has won the Tidy Town's
competition for 2005.

Moynalty in Co Meath won the tidest village while Lismore
in Waterford scooped the tidest small town title.

The competition is in it`s 48th year.

----
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