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Northern Ireland: Loyalist riots continue in Belfast (PHOTOS)
Tuesday, January 8th, 2013

The Northern Ireland city of Belfast saw a fifth straight night of rioting by British loyalists, amid growing unrest over a dispute concerning the British union flag.

While around 1,000 pro-British loyalists held a peaceful demonstration, Al Jazeera reported that a group of around 250 clashed with police near a known boundary between loyalist and republican neighborhoods.

The police used plastic bullets and water canons to quell the riots, while The New York Times said rioters were armed with hatchets, sledge hammers and gasoline bombs.

Northern Ireland has largely been at peace since the Good Friday peace agreement in 1998. Nearly 3,500 people were killed in the preceding three decades of sectarian violence between Northern Irish Protestants and Catholics.

The current unrest stems from the Belfast City Council's decision on Dec. 3 to limit the number of days the British union flag could be flown over the City Hall to 17. The chief constable for the Police Service of Northern Ireland blamed the violence on members of the loyalist group Ulster Volunteer Force, who were "orchestrating violence for their own selfish motives," said CNN.

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Loyalist march outside city hall in protest over Belfast city council's decision to restrict the number of days the British Union Flag can be flown over the city hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland on December 8, 2012. Protests have broken out since Belfast city councillors voted to restrict the number of days the Union Flag will fly above City Hall from everyday, to 17, meaning it will be taken down for the first time since the building opened in 1906. Police said around 1,000 people rioted in Belfast after the controversial Union flag vote on December 3, with 15 officers, two security workers and a press photographer were injured during the clashes.

(PETER MUHLY - AFP/Getty Images)
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Loyalist march waving British Union Flags in Belfast, Northern Ireland on December 8, 2012 in protest over Belfast city council's decision to restrict the number of days the Union Flag will be flown over the city hall. Protests have broken out since Belfast city councillors voted to restrict the number of days the Union Flag will fly above City Hall from everyday, to 17, meaning it will be taken down for the first time since the building opened in 1906. Police said around 1,000 people rioted in Belfast after the controversial Union flag vote on December 3, with 15 officers, two security workers and a press photographer were injured during the clashes.

(AFP - AFP/Getty Images)
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A boy holds a British Union Flag with a picture of Queen Elizabeth II during a loyalist protest outside the city hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland on December 8, 2012 against Belfast city council's decision to restrict the number of days the Union Flag will be flown over the city hall. Protests have broken out since Belfast city councillors voted to restrict the number of days the Union Flag will fly above City Hall from everyday, to 17, meaning it will be taken down for the first time since the building opened in 1906. Police said around 1,000 people rioted in Belfast after the controversial Union flag vote on December 3, with 15 officers, two security workers and a press photographer were injured during the clashes.

(AFP - AFP/Getty Images)
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Loyalists sit near a burning car in east Belfast, Northern Ireland on December 8, 2012 after a march in protest against Belfast city council's decision to restrict the number of days the Union Flag will be flown over the city hall. Protests have broken out since Belfast city councillors voted to restrict the number of days the Union Flag will fly above City Hall from everyday, to 17, meaning it will be taken down for the first time since the building opened in 1906. Police said around 1,000 people rioted in Belfast after the controversial Union flag vote on December 3, with 15 officers, two security workers and a press photographer were injured during the clashes.

(PETER MUHLY - AFP/Getty Images)
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Northern Irish protesters hold the union flag as they block the Donegall road in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on December 11, 2012 amid renewed tensions after Belfast city councillors voted not to fly the British flag all year around. Around 3,500 people were killed in the three decades of sectarian bloodshed between Northern Irish Protestants favouring continued union with Britain, and Catholics seeking a unified Ireland.

(AFP - AFP/Getty Images)
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Northern Irish protesters hold the union flag as they block the Donegall road in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on December 11, 2012 amid renewed tensions after Belfast city councillors voted not to fly the British flag all year around. Around 3,500 people were killed in the three decades of sectarian bloodshed between Northern Irish Protestants favouring continued union with Britain, and Catholics seeking a unified Ireland.

(AFP - AFP/Getty Images)
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Protestors block the Shankill road in Belfast, Northern Ireland on December 12, 2012 as police officers look on. Tensions have risen in the British province since councillors voted on December 3 to limit the number of days the Union Jack can fly over the City Hall to 17, outraging loyalists who believe Northern Ireland should retain strong links to Britain.

(PETER MUHLY - AFP/Getty Images)
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A demostrator holds a placard refering to the flag protest as up to 1,000 people gather to take part in a peace rally outside Belfast City Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland on December 16, 2012. The rally was geld to voice disagreement with the violence which has flared up since tensions have risen in the British province since councillors voted on December 3 to limit the number of days the Union Jack can fly over the City Hall to 17, outraging loyalists who believe Northern Ireland should retain strong links to Britain.

(PETER MUHLY - AFP/Getty Images)
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Loyalists flying British Union Flags march outside Belfast City Hall in protest over Belfast city council's decision to restrict the number of days the Union Flag can be flown over the city hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland on January 5, 2013. Nine officers were injured and 18 people arrested in fresh violence overnight on the streets of Belfast, police said on January 5. Tensions have risen in the British province since councillors voted on December 3, 2012 to limit the number of days the Union flag can fly over the City Hall to 17, outraging loyalists who believe Northern Ireland should retain strong links to Britain.

(PETER MUHLY - AFP/Getty Images)
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Loyalists flying British Union Flags march outside Belfast City Hall in protest over Belfast city council's decision to restrict the number of days the Union Flag can be flown over the city hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland on January 5, 2013. Nine officers were injured and 18 people arrested in fresh violence overnight on the streets of Belfast, police said on January 5. Tensions have risen in the British province since councillors voted on December 3, 2012 to limit the number of days the Union flag can fly over the City Hall to 17, outraging loyalists who believe Northern Ireland should retain strong links to Britain.

(PETER MUHLY - AFP/Getty Images)
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Loyalist protesters burn debris on the lower Newtownards road in Belfast, Northern Ireland on January 5, 2013. Nine officers were injured and 18 people arrested in fresh violence overnight on the streets of Belfast, police said on January 5. Tensions have risen in the British province since councillors voted on December 3, 2012 to limit the number of days the Union flag can fly over the City Hall to 17, outraging loyalists who believe Northern Ireland should retain strong links to Britain.

(PETER MUHLY - AFP/Getty Images)
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Police in riot gear march behind loyalist protesters after a demonstration outside City Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland on January 5, 2013. Nine officers were injured and 18 people arrested in fresh violence overnight on the streets of Belfast, police said on January 5. Tensions have risen in the British province since councillors voted on December 3, 2012 to limit the number of days the Union flag can fly over the City Hall to 17, outraging loyalists who believe Northern Ireland should retain strong links to Britain.

(PETER MUHLY - AFP/Getty Images)
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Loyalist protesters confront police as they gather at Belfast City Hall during a city council meeting in Belfast, Northern Ireland on January 7, 2013. Violence flared again in Northern Ireland, after politicians and Church leaders held talks in a bid to quell a row over the flying of the British flag.

(PETER MUHLY - AFP/Getty Images)
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Police dressed in riot gear protect the City Hall as Loyalist protesters gather at Belfast City Hall during a city council meeting in Belfast, Northern Ireland on January 7, 2013. Violence flared again in Northern Ireland, after politicians and Church leaders held talks in a bid to quell a row over the flying of the British flag.

(PETER MUHLY - AFP/Getty Images)
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Loyalist protesters gather at Belfast City Hall during a city council meeting in Belfast, Northern Ireland on January 7, 2013. Violence flared again in Northern Ireland, after politicians and Church leaders held talks in a bid to quell a row over the flying of the British flag.

(AFP - AFP/Getty Images)
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