Police under Fire in Fresh Belfast Violence

Police in Northern Ireland arrested a 38-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder on Saturday after reports of shots fired at officers during fresh protests in Belfast.

The unrest followed a largely peaceful demonstration by more than 1,000 people against Belfast city council's December 3 decision to limit the days it flies the British flag each year, a ruling which has sparked weeks of street violence.

"Police have come under sustained attack from crowds of more than 100 people using fireworks, bricks and other masonry. Water cannon has been deployed and two men have been arrested," a statement from police said.

"Police also investigating reports that a number of shots have been fired at police lines on the Newtownards road (in traditionally pro-British east Belfast). A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder."

On Friday night, nine police officers were injured and 18 people were arrested in the second consecutive night of disorder involving up to 300 people hurling petrol bombs, fireworks, ball bearings and masonry.

Conall McDevitt, a member of the Northern Ireland assembly for the republican SDLP, said the use of guns undermined the demonstrators' claim to be involved in legitimate protests.

"Whatever grievance some people may have had, it is totally lost when they allow people to use these protests as cover for attempted murder," he said.

"There is only one response possible, and that's a firm policing response against everyone involved in illegal protests and anyone seeking to organize or encourage illegal or violent demonstrations."

On Friday, First Minister Peter Robinson, the leader of the Protestant, pro-British Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), said attacks on police officers were a "disgrace, criminally wrong and cannot be justified".

"Those responsible are doing a grave disservice to the cause they claim to espouse and are playing into the hands of those dissident groups who would seek to exploit every opportunity to further their terror aims," he said.

The December flag vote has raised tensions in the province, which endured three decades of sectarian violence until 1998 peace accords led to a power-sharing government between Protestants and Catholics.