Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly were today urged
to unite in calling for an end to the Ardoyne protests.
As the dispute at Holy Cross Primary School entered its second week, Sinn Fein MLA Mr Gerry Kelly argued the law was on the side of the pupils rather than loyalist residents.
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He told the Assembly: "This is the European year of the child, the European Convention of Human Rights places the rights of children above the rights of protests.
"Protesting against children in my opinion is illegal and it is certainly absolutely wrong."
Mr Kelly's call came as the Assembly debated the six-day dispute when on returning from its summer recess.
Earlier loyalists in the Glenbryn estate had held a silent demonstration as the youngsters were led to school. But they screamed abuse, blew whistles and sounded horns as the parents returned from Holy Cross.
Mr Kelly tabled a motion urging MLAs to support the rights to education of the Holy Cross pupils. The motion, along with an amendment tabled by the chairman of the Stormont Education Committee, Mr Danny Kennedy, to include all schools in the North was unanimously carried by the Assembly.
The vote came after acting Deputy First Minister Mr Seamus Mallon warned against exploiting the situation in north Belfast for wider political gains.
The SDLP deputy leader, who has been involved with Secretary of State John Reid and acting First Minister Sir Reg Empey in formulating a package aimed at resolving the crisis through formal dialogue, insisted the talks should focus on local issues such as housing, education, social development and community relations.
PA